Active sol-gel materials

Sol-gel technology has attracted considerable attention due to possibility of obtaining submicron and nano-sized materials. The method of silica and titania nanopowders and thin films obtaining will be presented. Also properties and prospective application of these materials will be express. Additionally , methods of obtaining nanomaterials with different grains shape and specific properties (submicron spherical silica powders, titania nanofibers) will be showed. One of the main advantages of the sol-gel technique is the easiness of doping of the obtained materials with various substances (inorganic, organic, biological). Materials activated this way possess several useful properties. For example, silica spherical matrices with metallic nano-islands on their surface will be presented. Such silver-doped silica powders display anti-microbial capabilities and can be Used to obtain doped thin-film coatings e.g. for the production of bacteriostatic textiles. Moreover, materials obtained by the sol-gel method have found wide application in the area of sensors. Examples of optical sensors based on sol-gel derived thin films and optical fiber or planar wave-guide will be also presented.