4. Glossary

Sol-gel chemistry; Sol-gel chemistry

Sol-gel chemistry generally operates at low temperatures via hydrolysis and polycondensation reactions of molecular precursors known as alkoxides. These acid- or base-catalyzed reactions lead to an increase in the viscosity of the starting soils, resulting in the emergence of acidic or basic gels. Beyond a sol-gel transition, sol-gel chemistry enables oxides to be synthesized at low temperatures. It is also known as "soft chemistry".

Chimie intégrative; Integrative chemistry

Integrative chemistry advocates a decompartmentalization of the chemical sciences, with openings to the physical chemistry of complex fluids, physics and biology. Its construction methods are fundamentally associated with the rational positioning of chemical reactors within geometric space. It enables the...