Preparation of New Composite Films Composed of Size-Controlled Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles Dispersed in Organically Modified Silica Glass

The pyrolysis of transition metal carboxylates into organically modified silica glass-ZrO2 hybrid sol-gel films yields composite materials containing cobalt oxide nanoparticles in various proportions. The particles have sizes ranging from 5 to 10 nm, and they are homogeneously dispersed in the final materials. A reaction temperature near 250°C results in translucent films that have good mechanical properties and that could find application in nonlinear optics.