Nonhydrolytic Sol−Gel Routes to Oxides

This review surveys the chemistry of various nonhydrolytic sol−gel processes including hydroxylation in nonaqueous systems and aprotic condensation reactions. Some examples of applications in the field of single and multicomponent oxides demonstrate the interest of these approaches as alternatives to the usual hydrolytic routes. More particularly nonhydrolytic methods lead to improved control over the molecular level homogeneity and stoichiometry of multicomponent oxides.