Method of making inorganic, metal oxide spheres using microstructured molds

A process for making inorganic, metal oxide spheres, the process comprising:

• forming a glass precursor composition comprising glass precursor particles dispersed in a vehicle such that the composition forms a dispersion, the vehicle including at least one of water, an organic liquid, and a binder;
• positioning the glass precursor composition in a plurality of mold cavities;
• solidifying the glass precursor composition in the plurality of mold cavities to form solidified, molded microparticles;
• demolding the solidified, molded microparticles from the plurality of mold cavities;
• exposing the solidified, molded microparticles, after demolding, to a temperature sufficient to transform the molded microparticles into homogeneous molten droplets;
• and
• cooling the homogeneous molten droplets to form inorganic, metal oxide spheres.