A chromatographic stationary phase or solid phase extraction (SPE) sorbent are sol-gel metal oxide particles comprising metal oxide network units with organic functionality bonded to the metal of the metal oxide and possess a higher performance or capacity than that of conventional ligand coated silica particles. The organic functionality is distributed throughout the metal oxide particle and wherein the mole percent of metals of the metal oxides with bonded organic functionality is in excess of nine mole percent of the particle. The particles are prepared from sol-gel processing employing an acid catalyst or an acid catalyst followed by a base catalyst to metal oxide precursors, at least nine mole percent of which have organic functionality. The particles are processed from a sol-gel condensation product into a size depending on the intended use.