Sol-Gel for Environmentally Green Products

Briefly reviewing selected achievements in chemical synthesis, protective coatings, and photosynthetic glasses, this chapter describes some findings that show the large sustainability potential of these environment-friendly multifunctional materials. Waterborne sol-gel systems based on silanes are highly effective and environmentally benign coatings widely used to combat corrosion, friction, stick, and fouling. The chapter describes three examples of recently developed sol-gel coatings replacing conventional systems: anticorrosion, antifouling (AF), and nonstick coatings. It focuses on three applications - coatings, catalysis for fine chemicals, and photosynthesis over silica-based photobioreactors - that rapidly convey the said potential. Doped sol-gel glasses will be one of the key enabling technologies of the forthcoming economics built around solar energy and biomass valorization called helionomics.