Chemical routes in the synthesis of nanomaterials using the sol-gel process

In this Account, we discuss the usefulness of the sol-gel process in the synthesis of materials comprising nanoscale architectures. We describe the processing of semiconducting, metallic, ferroelectric, or scintillating nanoparticles in various oxide matrices. We also discuss the synthesis of some nanoporous oxides and organic-inorganic nanohybrids, including core-shell nanostructures.