Solvent-poor sol-gel-systems

A method of making a low solvent sol-gel system, comprising the steps of:

• treating at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a silane, an alkoxide, and one or more alkoxides of Al, Ce, Ga, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, and Ta, by a process selected from the group consisting of hydrolyzing and condensating, to produce a reaction mixture until the reaction mixture is substantially in equilibrium;
• subsequently adding water to the equilibrated reaction mixture in an amount sufficient to cause a phase separation into a condensate phase and an aqueous phase;
• physically separating the condensate phase containing the low solvent sol-gel from said aqueous phase;
• and
• coating a substrate with the low solvent sol-gel.