Aluminum lactate – An attractive precursor for sol–gel synthesis of alumina-based glasses

A novel aluminum precursor, aluminum lactate (Al(lact)3), was used in the sol–gel synthesis of alumina-based systems. The peculiar chelation properties of aluminum lactate in aqueous solution make this precursor quite attractive for the sol–gel synthesis of alumina-containing materials. Based on the reaction of aluminum lactate with different precursors such as phosphorus, boron, fluorine and others, (Na2O–)Al2O3–P2O5, (Na2O–)Al2O3–B2O3, (Na2O–)Al2O3–B2O3–P2O5, (Na–)Al–P–O–F, amorphous gels and glasses were prepared. The local structures of glasses prepared by both sol–gel and melt-cooling methods were compared by using solid state NMR.