The Sol-Gel Process, a Green Method Used to Obtain Hybrid Materials Containing Phosphorus and Zirconium

The sol-gel process is a green method used in the last few decades to synthesize new organic-inorganic phosphorus-containing hybrid materials. The sol-gel synthesis is a green method because it takes place in mild conditions, mostly by using water or alcohol as solvents, at room temperature. Therefore, the sol-gel method is, among others, a promising route for obtaining metal-phosphonate networks. In addition to phosphorus, the obtained hybrid materials could also contain titanium, zirconium, boron, and other elements, which influence their properties. The sol-gel process has two steps: first, the sol formation, and second, the transition to the gel phase. In other words, the sol-gel process converts the precursors into a colloidal solution (sol), followed by obtaining a network (gel). By using the sol-gel method, different organic moieties could be introduced into an inorganic matrix, resulting in organic-inorganic hybrid structures (sometimes they are also referred as organic-inorganic copolymers).