Sol-gel preparation of amorphous ZBLA heavy metal fluoride powders

Abstract
Amorphous fluoride powder in the ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3 (ZBLA) system has been prepared by a direct chemical route from metal alkoxides by reaction with bromine trifluoride. The potential of bromine trifluoride as a solvent for use in sol-gel synthesis of fluoride glass is discussed.