Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a stable sol-gel solution. The solution may be used to form coating materials for metallic substrates, such as silver-based substrates for use in mirrors. The process includes the steps of preparing a sol-gel solution by bringing one or more molecular metal and/or metalloid precursors into contact with a medium comprising an organic solvent, adding at least one mercaptoorganosilane compound to the solution, hydrolyzing the solution obtained, and then adding one or more complexing agents to the solution.

Abstract: A method of preparing a sol of lead zirconium titanate, known as PZT, of formula PbZrxTi(1?x)O3 with 0.45?x?0.7, comprises the steps of: (a) preparing a concentrated sol in a diol, the sol comprising a titanium-based precursor, a zirconium-based precursor, and a lead-based precursor; (b) placing the concentrated sol at ambient temperature without agitation, until a sol is obtained having a constant viscosity as a function of time; (c) diluting the sol obtained in (b) with a solvent compatible with the diol used in step (a). The sol is useful for preparing PZT-based films for use in the electronics field.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing layers made of oxide ceramic that conform to substrates having features in relief comprising: a step of depositing on said substrate a layer of a sol-gel solution that is a precursor of said ceramic; a heat treatment step of said layer with a view to converting it to the ceramic; said steps being optionally repeated one or more times, characterized in that the sol-gel solution that is a precursor of said ceramic is prepared by a process successively comprising the following steps: a) preparing a first solution by bringing the molecular precursor or precursors of the metals intended to be incorporated into the composition of the ceramic into contact with a medium comprising a diol solvent and optionally an aliphatic monoalcohol; b) leaving the solution obtained in a) to stand for a sufficient time needed to obtain a solution that has a substantially constant viscosity; c) diluting the solution obtained in b) to a predetermined amount with a dial solvent o

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a stable sol-gel solution comprising, in succession, the following steps: a) preparing a sol-gel solution by bringing one or more molecular metal and/or metalloid precursors into contact with a medium comprising an organic solvent; b) adding at least one mercaptoorganosilane compound to the solution obtained in a); c) hydrolyzing the solution obtained in b); and d) adding, to the solution obtained in c), one or more complexing agents chosen from carboxylic acids, ?-diketone compounds and hydroxamate compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a stable sol-gel solution as precursor of an oxide ceramic based on lead, titanium, zirconium and one or more lanthanides, comprising, in succession, the following steps: a) a sol-gel solution is prepared by bringing a lead-containing molecular precursor, a titanium-containing molecular precursor, a zirconium-containing molecular precursor and a lanthanide-metal-containing molecular precursor into contact with a medium comprising a diol solvent and optionally an aliphatic monoalcohol; b) the solution obtained in step a) is left to stand for a sufficient time needed to obtain a solution having an approximately constant viscosity; and c) the solution obtained in step b) is diluted to a predetermined amount with a diol solvent identical to that of step a) or a solvent miscible with this solvent. Application to the preparation of an oxide ceramic material comprising lead, a lanthanide metal, titanium and zirconium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a sol of lead zirconium titanate, known as PZT, of formula PbZrxTi(1-x)O3 with 0.45≦x≦0.