Preparation of monolithic tantalic oxide aerogel from tantalic pentachloride

Monolithic tantalic oxide aerogels were synthesized from inorganic salt precursors, tantalic pentachloride by hydrolysis and condensation in alcohol solvent. The propylene oxide and the epichlorohydrin were used as gelling agent respectively. The tantalic oxide wet gels was obtained and washed in acetone to remove water and remaining PO. Finally, the wet gels were dried in supercritical CO2 instrument. This approach is straightforward, inexpensive and versatile, it produces monolithic mesoporous materials with high specific surface areas and very low bulk density. Dried tantalic oxide aerogel is characterized by transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and nitrogen adsorption/ desorption analyses, and the specific surface area is about 800~ 900 m2/g.