Synthesis and Characterization of Ta2O5-SiO2 Mixed Oxides.

Mixed oxides, especially silica containing multicomponent oxides, have recently found many applications in the production of glasses, ceramics and catalysts. This paper reports for the first time the synthesis of SiO2-Ta2O5 mixed oxide by the sol-gel method. The advantage of the sol-gel method is that a relatively large concentration of tantalum can be incorporated in the mixed oxide structure. Physicochemical characterization shows that tantalum atoms are incorporated into the silica matrix producing Si-O-Ta bonds.