Hydroxyethyl cellulose/silicon dioxide(HEC/SiO 2)organic/inorganic hybrid materials are prepared by sol\|gel process through the hybrolysis and polycondensation of tetramethoxy\|silicane (TMOS) in hydroxyethyl cellulose aqueous solution. The effects of reaction system pH, volume ratio of water to TMOS, and HECcontent on the gelation time and optical property of the hybrid materials are investigated in detail. The heat performances and microscopical structure of HEC gel materials, SiO 2 gel materials and H...