Patent ID: 7750056

Claim:
A method for synthesis, manufacture, and production of a silica nanocrystallite material comprising a colloidal dispersion, produced by using high speed homogenization, wherein a base catalyst is added to a solvent to form a catalyst solution and homogenized, using high speed homogenization, wherein a surface-active agent (surfactant) is dispersed in the catalyst solution using high speed homogenization thus forming a low surface tension catalyst solution; wherein a precursor solution is mixed with the catalyst solution while at the same time high speed homogenization is carried out, thus forming oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion, wherein a hydrolysis-polycondensation reaction mechanism takes place instantaneously with the aid of the catalyst, thus forming a hydrogel; wherein a hydrophobing agent is added few seconds prior to formation of the hydrogel, while homogenizing is in progress, thus rendering the hydrogel a sol-gel with hydrophobic characteristics.