Synthesis and Characterization of New Silica‐Titania Mixed Oxides Obtained by Sol‐Gel Technique

Summary: Although titanium dioxide has a high surface area, it is not thermally stable and its surface area decreases strongly at high temperature due to phase transformation and crystal growth. To improve the thermal stability of titanium dioxide, the synthesis of mixed oxides can be an elegant approach. In this study different experimental variables for the synthesis and characterization of new titania‐silica mixed oxides intended to be used as fillers have been proposed. To manufacture the mixed oxides, different tetraethylortosilicate (TEOS)/Tetrabutyl orthotitanate (TBTi) mixtures in different ratio, ethanol as solvent, and acetic acid as catalyst were used via sol‐gel synthesis route. These oxides were characterized by transmission electron microscopy coupled with EDX analysis (TEM‐EDX), optical microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, textural properties, and pH measurements and wettability with liquids of different polarity.