Ceramic Membranes and Thin Films High-Temperature Catalyst Supports and Ceramic Membranes: Metastability and Particle Packing

Parameters and/or processes responsible for the stability of catalyst supports and ceramic membranes are discussed. Two major parameters/processes were identified which are responsible for the stabiliv of sol-gel derived nanostmctured oxides at elevated temperatures. They are metastable-to-stable phase transformation and structure and packing of primary particles within the aggregate. Based on these obseruatwns, strategies to develop thermostable nanostmctured oxides for high-temperature membrane and catalyst applications are discussed by taking titania and titania-alumina nanocomposites as examples.