microstructure, at the nanoscale level, of SiO2 gels at different processing stages. The
samples were prepared by the alkoxide route of the sol–gel process with different pH values.
They were measured as xerogels after heat treatment at different temperatures and as wet
gels at the gel point and after aging at 60° C. SANS measurements confirmed that pH has a
strong influence upon the nanostructure of gels. The present work reports the main SANS …