The Effect of Nanoscaled Metal Oxide Sols on the Structure and Properties of Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane Derived Sols and Gels

Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTS) is frequently used as precursor for the preparation of sol-gel derived nanoscaled hybrid polymers. The influence of nanoscaled metal oxide sols of silica, boehmite, zirconia and ceria on reactions of GPTS in ethanolic hydrolysates and in corresponding gels (epoxide ring-opening, condensation degree) was examined by liquid- and solid-state ¹³C and ²⁹Si NMR with regard to a better correlation between structure and material properties. Generally, a higher condensation degree of RSi(O_0.5)₃ units of GPTS is found after addition of metal oxide sols compared to GPTS without additives. The metal oxide sols (10 mole% series) cause an epoxide ring-opening up to 20% in GPTS hydrolysates after 24 h. A nearly complete ring opening was found in the boehmite and silica containing hybrid gels whereas gels containing ceria and other types of silica only show a low degree of ring-opening. The results show an accelerated ring-opening with increasing content of AlO/OH-species in silica sols. ¹³C NMR studies reveal that the epoxide ring-opening does not completely lead to polyether structures but to considerable amounts (up to 40%) of ethylether groups which can influence the material properties (hardness).     

Synthesis and Hydrolysis of Hybridized Silicon Alkoxide: Si(OEt)x(OBut)4-x. Part II: Hydrolysis of the Si(OEt)x(OBut)4-x

The hydrolyzation behavior of the Si(OEt)_x(OBu^t)_4-x synthesized in part I was investigated by gas chromatogram/mass spectrum (GC/MS) technique. In the Si(OEt)_x(OBu^t)_4-x, Si(OEt)(OBu^t)₃ showed more rapid hydrolysis than Si(OEt)₂(OBu^t)₂, especially in the initial stages of the hydrolyzation. The dimer and trimer formations along with the sol-gel course were followed during the hydrolyzation process.     

Photobleaching of γ-Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane-Chelated Metal Alkoxide Gel Films

Thick photosensitive inorganic-organic hybrid gel films are fabricated using a silica–PEO(poly(ethylene oxide)) polymeric network and several chelated metal alkoxides: Ti(OEt)₄, Al(OBu^sec)₃, Zr(OPr ⁿ )₄. The -glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTS) and the metal alkoxides stabilized by -ketoester or -diketone are used as precursors. The chelated metal complex in the gel films are photodecomposed and forms the oxide network by UV exposure. The photodecomposition of the chelate ring and the photobleaching of the UV absorption bands are investigated as a function of UV exposure time. The photobleaching rates with respect to chelating agents, metal alkoxides and photon energy are compared.     

Synthesis and Hydrolysis of Hybridized Silicon Alkoxide: Si(OEt)x(OBut)4-x. Part I: Synthesis and Identification of the Si(OEt)x(OBut)4-x

Using silicon tetrachloride (SiCl₄), tert-butanol (t-BuOH), ethanol (EtOH) and NH₃, the hybridized silicon ethoxide 3-tert-butoxide (Si(OEt)_x(OBu^t)_4-x) was synthesized and the configuration of the material was investigated by FT-IR,¹ H and ¹³C NMR and gas chromatogram/mass spectrum (GC/MS) techniques. The results confirm that both the ethoxy and the tert-butoxy groups have been attached to silicon atoms. Furthermore, the alkoxy group types and their relative amounts in the alkoxide were also determined by ¹H and ¹³C NMR and GC/MS.     

Synthesis and Characterisation of Aluminium-Zirconium Based Organic-Inorganic Materials via Sol-Gel Route

Monolithic and transparent hybrid Al-Zr gels were obtained by the reaction of homogeneous mixtures of metal alkoxides: (Al(OBu^s)₃ + Zr(OPr)₄) with Butan-1,3-diol at room temperature, without solvent, catalyst, or water. The products have been characterized by IR spectroscopy, DTA and TGA. The results show that the diol has reacted with the mixture of alkoxides leading to the monolithic transparent gels in which both organic-inorganic (–Al–O–R–O–Zr–) and inorganic (–Al–O–Zr–O–) bridges are formed.Xerogels obtained after the drying of gels were pyrolysed at different temperatures in air. The structure and morphology of the obtained materials were studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. At 1200°C, the materials were composed of Al₂O₃, t-ZrO₂ and m-ZrO₂.     

Modification Study of Aluminum sec-Butoxide by Acrylic Acid

A new way of modifying aluminum sec-butoxide (Al(OBu^s)₃) is proposed. This synthesis is carried out by reacting Al(OBu^s)₃ dissolved in tetrahydrofuran with an unsaturated acid, viz. acrylic acid.The structure evolution of Al(OBu^s)₃ with increasing acrylic acid amounts is investigated by infrared, ¹H NMR, ¹³ C NMR, and ²⁷Al NMR spectroscopies and viscosity measurements. Information obtained suggests that the exchange reaction occurring between butoxy groups and acrylate ligands is stopped for an acid/alkoxide molar ratio within the range 1.6–1.7. This value leads us to assume that the dominant trimeric species of precursor is preserved after modification. Moreover, ²⁷Al NMR analysis only reveals the presence of hexacoordinated Al sites in the structure of the modified Al(OBu^s)₃.Evidence of the acrylic acid reaction with sec-butanol released during the alkoxide modification is also proved by the infrared and ¹³ C NMR data. However the produced ester amount can be considered as negligible.     

Preparation of Silicates Using HSi(OC2H5)3 and Their NO x -Adsorption Behavior

The preparation and NO-adsorption/desorption behavior of Li, Ca and Ba silicates were investigated aiming at the application to a NO_x-absorbent. Li silicate was prepared by reaction of HSi(OC₂H₅)₃ with aqueous lithium silicate solution (LSS). Ca and Ba silicates were prepared from gels obtained using CH₃Si(OC₂H₅)₃, Si(OC₂H₅)₄, HSi(OC₂H₅)₃ and alkaline-earth alkoxides. The surface of these silicates indicated the solid basicity of H₀ = 9 and adsorbed the acidic gas of NO. FT-IR spectra of the silicates adsorbing NO showed the absorption peaks in the range of 1300–1600 cm^{– 1} corresponding to ionic and covalent nitrate NO₃^–. The complete desorption of adsorbed NO species occurred above 500°C in the Li silicate, above 500°C in the Ca and Ba silicates prepared using CH₃Si(OC₂H₅)₃, and above 700°C in the Ba and Ca silicates prepared using Si(OC₂H₅)₄. Regarding the Ca and Ba silicates, the difference in siloxane structure is thought to cause the difference in adsorption state and desorption behavior of NO.     

A sol-gel route for the development of rare-earth aluminum borate nanopowders and transparent thin films

A new sol-gel route was applied to obtain Y_0.9Er_0.1Al₃(BO₃)₄ crystalline powders and amorphous thin films by using Al(acac)₃, B(OPrⁱ)₃, Y(NO₃)₃·6H₂O, and Er(NO₃)₃·5H₂O as starting materials dissolved in propionic acid and ethyl alcohol mixtures. Our study shows that propionic acid acts as good chelant agent for yttrium and erbium ions while ethyl alcohol allows to dissolve Al(acac)₃. This process makes the resulting sols very stable to obtain homogeneous gels and transparent amorphous thin films. In addition, the propionic acid prevents the sol precipitation, making easy porous- and crack-free thin film depositions. Chemical reactions involved in the complexation were discussed. As-prepared powders and films are amorphous and present a good thermal stability due to their high glass transition (746 °C) and crystallization temperatures (830 °C). This new sol-gel route showed to be adequate to obtain dense and crack-free thin films free of organic and hydroxyl groups that can be considered as promising materials to be used in integrated optical systems.     

Complexation of Titanium n-butoxide Ti(OBu n )4 and Zirconium n-butoxide Zr(OBu n )4 with Some Oxime Ligands and Structural Analysis of the Complexes

Titanium tetra-n-butoxide, Ti(OBuⁿ)₄, and zirconium tetra-n-butoxide, Zr(OBuⁿ)₄, were reacted with some well-known dioxime and monoxime ligands such as dimethylglyoxime (DMG), salicylaldoxime (SO) and acetone oxime (AO). The structures of the resulting complexes have been determined by elemental analysis, i.r. and ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The complexation ratio of both Ti(OBuⁿ)₄ and Zr(OBuⁿ)₄ was found to be 1:2 with DMG and SO. On the other hand, both 1:1 and 1:2 complexation ratios of the same metal alkoxides were observed with the ligand AO.     

Silica-Zirconia Sol–Gel Coatings Obtained by Different Synthesis Routes

Homogeneous xSiO₂-(1−x)ZrO₂ coatings have been prepared onto glass-slides, monocrystalline Si and stainless steel (AISI 304) using sols prepared via acid and basic catalysis. Zirconium tetrabutoxide (TBOZr), zirconium n-propoxide (TPZ), tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) were used as precursors of zirconia and silica, respectively. The different parameters involved in the synthesis procedure, as molar ratios H₂O/alkoxides, NaOH/alkoxides, and sintering temperature have been analysed, correlating the stability and rheological properties of the sols. The evolution and structure of the sols and coatings have been studied by FTIR. Coatings have been prepared by dipping from acid and basic sols. Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD) technique has also been used to prepare coatings onto stainless steel from basic particulate sols in order to increase the critical thickness. A maximum thickness of 0.5 μ m was reached by both dipping and EPD process for 75SiO₂: 25 ZrO₂ composition. The critical thickness decreases with ZrO₂ amount depending strongly of the drying conditions. Si–O–Zr bonds have been identified by FTIR, indicating the existence of mixed network Si–O–Zr in the coatings obtained by the different routes. Crystallisation of ZrO₂(t) was only observed at high sintering temperature (900^∘C) by FTIR and confirmed by DRX.     

Preparation of organoalkoxysiloxanes by partial acidolysis of organoalkoxysilanes

Partial polycondensation of RSi(OMe)₃ (R = C₆H₅, CH₃) by the reaction with AcOH in the presence of HCl is studied. Oligoorganomethoxysiloxanes are obtained of the average composition [RSi(OMe)O]₄, [RSi (OMe)_4/6O_7/6]₆, RSi(OMe)_0.5O_1.25]₈, and [RSi(OMe)_0.4O_1.3]₁₀. Using the method of ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy they were shown to contain three types of structural fragments: RSi(OMe)₂O-, RSiOMe(O-)₂, RSi(O-)₃. Based on the kinetic data, on the composition, properties, and the ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy data of the products the conclusion is made that the obtained compounds have polycyclic structure with branched fragments. Using the GLC method the reaction was shown to have an induction period, whose duration can be substantially shortened by addition of HCl or methanol.     

The role of precursors in the structure of SiO2-Al2O3 sols and gels by the sol-gel process

Binary sols and gels of SiO₂-Al₂O₃ were prepared using tetraethyl orthosilicate and each of four aluminum compounds; aluminum di (sec-butoxide) ethylacetoacetic ester chelate (AC), aluminum nitrate nonahydrate (AN), aluminum formoacetate (AF), and boehmite sol (BS) made from aluminum i-propoxide. The structure and the evolution of the Si-O-Al bonds in SiO₂-Al₂O₃ sols and gels were investigated by ²⁷Al nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Infrared absorption spectra, DTA, and X-ray diffraction. The formation of Si-O-Al bonds differs depending on the aluminum compounds used as raw materials. The ratio of Al(IV) to {Al(IV) + Al(VI)} is related to the microstructural homogeneity of the gels. When AC is used as a raw material, the Si-O-Al bonds are formed in the sol state and resultant gel shows good microstructural homogeneity. In case of AN, the Si-O-Al bonds are not formed either in the sol or the wet gel state. The bonds are formed by drying the gel before heat-treatment temperature reaches 300 400°C, resulting in good microstructural homogeneous gel. When AF is used, the Si-O-Al bonds are formed in the sol state but the ratio of Al(IV) to {Al(IV) + Al(VI)} is lower than when using AC. Microstructural homogeneity of the gel is ranked between AC or AN and BS. Using BS, the Si-O-Al bonds are not formed in the sol solution, and the change in the coordination number of the gel is similar to that of boehmite gel. The Microstructural homogeneity of the gel is the worst among the BS gels, which were prepared by using the four aluminum raw materials.     

Investigation of the sol-gel chemistry of ethylacetoacetate modified aluminum sec-butoxide

Hydrolysis of aluminum sec-butoxide leads usually to precipitation; however, modification of the Al center with one ethylacetoacetate gives a new precursor, Al(OBu ^s )₂(etac). Hydrolysis of Al(OBu ^s )₂(etac) leads to transparent, homogeneous gels rather than precipitates and thus appears as an interesting precursor for the sol-gel synthesis of alumina-containing ceramics. The investigation of the sol-gel chemistry of Al(OBu ^s )₂(etac) by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and infrared techniques provides a detailed understanding of the effects of the ethylacetoacetate group on the chemistry at the Al center. ²⁷Al NMR shows that in solution Al(OBu ^s )₂(etac) exists as oligomeric species that contain hexa-, penta- and tetra-coordinated Al. When dissolved in ethanol, Al(OBu ^s )₂(etac) undergoes exchange reactions with solvent as shown by ¹³C NMR, which strongly influence the nature of the species in equilibrium, favoring the formation of pentacoordinated Al sites. The effects of changes in reaction conditions on the species formed on hydrolysis were followed by ²⁷Al, ¹³C NMR and infrared spectroscopies. These techniques indicate that the etac groups are much less susceptible to hydrolysis than the butoxy groups. Some of the etac groups survive to hydrolysis procedure, thus preventing complete condensation of the oxide network.     

Effect of Inorganic Components on Thermal Stability of Methylsiloxane-Based Inorganic/Orgnaic Hybrids

The thermal decomposition behavior of methylsiloxane-based inorganic/organic hybrids containing an inorganic component derived from metal alkoxides such as Si(OCH₃)₄, Al(O^sC₄H₉)₃, Ti(OⁱC₃H₇)₄ and Nb(OC₂H₅)₅ was investigated by means of thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The decomposition temperature of methyl groups in methylsiloxane-based inorganic/organic hybrids containing an inorganic component derived from metal alkoxides was higher than that in the methylsiloxane-based inorganic/organic hybrid prepared from only CH₃Si(OC₂H₅)₃. In particular, when incorporating Nb and Ti inorganic components, methyl groups in methylsiloxane-based inorganic/organic hybrids decomposed at about 100 and 200^∘C higher temperatures, respectively, than those in the methylsiloxane-based inorganic/organic hybrid prepared from only CH₃Si(OC₂H₅)₃. The incorporation of an inorganic component other than siloxane into methylsiloxane-based inorganic/organic hybrids was found to thermally stabilize the methyl groups of methylsiloxane networks.     

General routes to porous metal oxides via inorganic and organic templates

The generation of porous metal oxides by removal of template molecules from inorganic polymers formed by sol-gel type hydrolysis and condensation of metal alkoxides is described. The template molecules include organic polymers, copper (II) ions in hybrid copper oxide/silica sols and copper (II) bis(hexafluorocetylacetonate) (hfac). Neutron scattering experiments on the system in which polyacrylic acid (Mw=2,000 Daltons) is used as an organic template to generate microporous tin oxide show that removal of the template generates skeletal voids. In a second series of experiments, mixed copper/silicon oxide xerogels were prepared by hydrolysis of mixtures of Si(OEt)₄ and Cu(OCH₂CH(CH₃)N(CH₃)H)₂ in the ratios of Si:Cu=2:1, 4:1, 9:1. Selective removal (etching) of the copper component generates porous silica. Neutron scattering data and BET surface area measurements are consistent with the creation of pores with molecular dimensions (micropores, 10 Å or less). In the third strategy, Si(OEt)₄ is hydrolyzed in the presence of Cu(hfac)₂, a volatile, inert inorganic template, in a 4 to 1 molar ratio. Removal of the template from the xerogel at 100°C in vacuo affords microporous silica.     

The Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization of Heterobimetallic Bu2Sn(IV) Complexes Derived from Some Chelating Ligands

The interaction of Bu₂Sn(OPrⁱ)₂ with a trifunctional tetradentate Schiff base (LH₃) (where H₃L = HOC₆H₄CH═NCH₃C(CH₂OH)₂) yields the precursor complex Bu₂Sn(LH) 1, which, on equimolar reactions with different metal alkoxides [Al(OPrⁱ)₃, Bu₃Sn(OPrⁱ), Ge(OEt)₄]; Al(Medea)(OPrⁱ) (where Medea = CH₃N- (CH₂CH₂O)₂); and Me₃SiCl in the presence of Et₃N], affords, respectively, the complexes Bu₂Sn(L)Al(OPrⁱ)₂ 2, Bu₂Sn(L)Al(Medea) 3, Bu₂Sn(L)Bu₃Sn 4, Bu₂Sn(L)Ge(OEt)₃ 5, and Bu₂Sn(L)SiMe₃ 6. The reactions of 2 with 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-hexanediol in a 1:1 ratio and with acetylacetone (acacH) in a 1:2 molar ratio afforded derivatives Bu₂Sn(L)Al(OC(CH₃)₂CH₂CH₂C(CH₃)₂ O) 7 and Bu₂Sn(L)Al(acac)₂ 8, respectively. All of the derivatives 1– 8 have been characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight measurements, and spectroscopic [IR and NMR (¹H, ¹¹⁹Sn, ²⁹Si, and ²⁷Al)] studies.     

MAS-NMR investigations of the crystallization behaviour of lithium aluminum silicate (LAS) glasses containing P2O5 and TiO2 nucleants

Lithium aluminum silicate (LAS) glass of composition (mol%) 20.4Li₂O-4.0Al₂O₃-68.6SiO₂-3.0K₂O-2.6B₂O₃-0.5P₂O₅-0.9TiO₂ was prepared by melt quenching. The glass was then nucleated and crystallized based on differential thermal analysis (DTA) data and was characterized by ²⁹Si, ³¹P, ¹¹B and ²⁷Al MAS-NMR. XRD and ²⁹Si NMR showed that lithium metasilicate (Li₂SiO₃) is the first phase to c form followed by cristobalite (SiO₂) and lithium disilicate (Li₂Si₂O₅). ²⁹Si MAS-NMR revealed a change in the network structure already for the glasses nucleated at 550 °C. Since crystalline Li₃PO₄, as observed by ³¹P MAS-NMR, forms concurrently with the silicate phases, we conclude that crystalline Li₃PO₄ does not act as a nucleating agent for lithium silicate phases. Moreover, ³¹P NMR indicates the formation of M-PO₄ (M=B, Al or Ti) complexes. The presence of BO₃ and BO₄ structural units in all the glass/glass-ceramic samples is revealed through ¹¹B MAS-NMR. B remains in the residual glass and the crystallization of silicate phases causes a reduction in the number of alkali ions available for charge compensation. As a result, the number of trigonally coordinated B (BO₃) increases at the expense of tetrahedrally coordinated B (BO₄). The ²⁷Al MAS-NMR spectra indicate the presence of tetrahedrally coordinated Al species, which are only slightly perturbed by the crystallization.     

Multi-component hybrid inorganic–organic–inorganic particles with various metal oxide outer shells

Non-agglomerated hybrid particles of 200 nm diameter with an outer metal oxide shell were prepared by reacting the COOH groups of poly((S)-N-dicarbazolyl-lysine)-covered silica particles with metal alkoxides, such as titanium, zirconium and aluminum alkoxides, followed by sol–gel processing. With tetraethoxysilane (Si(OEt)₄), the silica particle core was growing rather than forming an external metal oxide shell, as observed for the other tested metal alkoxides.     

Preparation of nanostructured porous SiO2-Al2O3 oxycarbonitride materials obtained by a new chemical precursor method

Nanostructured hybrid materials containing Al₂O₃ were synthesized via a sol-gel method through hydrolysis and co-condensation reactions using trimethylsilyl isocyanate (TMSI) as a new silica source in the presence of tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) and three different quantities (10, 20 and 30 wt.%) of aluminum sec-butoxide (Al(OBu^sec)₃ as a modifying agent. The xerogel nanostructured materials are pyrolyzed in nitrogen atmosphere in the temperature range from 400°C to 1100°C. The transformation of the xerogel hybrid networks into Al-Si oxycarbonitride materials has been investigated by XRD, FTIR, SEM, AFM, and ²⁹Si MAS-NMR. To the best of our knowledge, the work reported here is the first synthesis of porous di-urethanesils modified with aluminum and one of the few examples of alumosilica oxycarbonitride materials      

Formation of borosilicate glasses from silicon alkoxides and metaborate esters in dry non-aqueous solvents

The reaction of metaborate esters (RO)₃B₃O₃ [R = Me, Et, ClCH₂CH₂–, Cl₃CCH₂–, ClCH₂CH₂CH₂–, (ClCH₂)₂CH–] with Si(OR)₄ (R = Me, Et), either neat or in dry propan-2-one or dry THF at room temperature, led to gels which when dried and heated in air for 20 mins at 600°C afforded borosilicate glasses in high ceramic yields. The dried gels and glasses were characterized by elemental analysis, TGA, IR, and powder XRD, and solid-state MAS ²⁹Si and ¹¹B NMR. The gelling reaction was investigated by solution ¹¹B and ²⁹Si NMR. These NMR studies indicated B–O–Si reaction intermediates and a mechanism involving alkoxy exchange and various condensation/elimination reactions of the borosilicate esters have been proposed.