Nanostructured forms and layers and method for producing them using stable water-soluble precursors

A process for preparing a composition for producing a nanostructured moulding or layer, comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting an aqueous and/or alcoholic sol of at least one compound of at least one element selected from the group consisting of silicon and the metals of the main groups and transition groups of the Periodic Table with at least one species possessing at least one hydrolyzable alkoxy group and comprising at least one organically modified alkoxysilane or a precondensate derived therefrom, under conditions which lead to hydrolysis of the at least one species;
• and
• (b) subsequently removing the total amount of any solvent alcohol already present originally and at least 30% by weight of the solvent alcohol that would be formed by the hydrolysis of all alkoxy groups originally present in the at least one species, in an amount such that the residual solvent alcohol content of the composition is not more than 20% by weight.