Sol-gel as versatile technique commonly used in materials’ engineering offers the  broad possibility of preparation of many metal oxides, composites, organic-inorganic hybrids and other materials in a form of mesoscopic objects (fibers, nanorodes,  nanoparticles) as well as thin structured films, porous materials and nanocomposites.

            In this approach illustration of these possibilities is presented. Silica nanorodes prepared with the use of various templates is shown as an example of the synthesis of elongated ceramic materials.

Another part concerns the preparation of titania and zirconia systems in the form of nonporous or porous ultrathin layers deposited in dip-coating procedure. The material morphology including porosity level and pore-size was controlled by application of appropriate type and concentration of surfactants or polymer beads which served as template. These types of materials may be applied as sensors, catalysts, low-k materials, photonic crystals, etc.

Furthermore, the synthesis of nanocomposite systems based on titania or alumina containing hard ceramic nanoparticles (Al₂O₃, ZrO₂) is presented. Application of nanoparticles considerably enhances the mechanical and tribological properties of the material.

Last part of this study is devoted to the preparation of titania nanoparticles, which are considered as promising material in such applications as solar energy conversion, photocatalysis, biomedical systems etc. Here, titania nanoparticles were prepared and their size was investigated using microscopic techniques.

In all experiments mainly Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was used as flexible technique of surface and nanoobject imaging.

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1. Preparation and characterization of organic-inorganic nanocomposites based on dithiophosphate acids/TiO₂ systems
2. Application of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in imaging of sol-gel derived mesoscopic objects and thin structured layers
3. The influence of temperature, surface modification, deposition method and porosity on tribological properties of titanium dioxide thin films