Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
In situ FTIR, NMR and SAXS were used to investigate the synthesis and molecular structure of xLi2O-(1−x)B2O3 gels derived from tri-n-butyl borate (TBB) and lithium methoxide. In solution the fraction of tetrahedrally coordinated borons (N4) increases linearly with x, and a critical value of N4 must be exceeded in order to form gels. The primary criterion affecting gel formation is the kinetic stability of borate bonds toward molecules which are able to undergo dissociative chemisorption.