A NMR Study on the Hydrolysis,Condensation and Epoxide Ring-Opening Reaction in Sols and Gels of the System Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane-Water-Titaniumtetraethoxide

The examination of hydrolysis, homo- and hetero-condensation reactions, of the condensation degree and the extent of epoxide ring opening in the course of sol-gel process was carried out by means of liquid- and solid-state 29Si and 13C NMR in the system 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTS)-titaniumtetraethoxide-water (molar ratio 1 : 1 : 1.5–14) which is frequently used for the synthesis of heterometal hybrid polymers. The monomeric silanol groups in the GPTS-prehydrolysate immediately co-condense with the Ti-tetraethoxide to Si–O–Ti bonds to an extent of about 50–60% which remain stable in sols and also in the corresponding gels at low amounts of free water (0.02 H2O/OR) in the sol. An increasing amount of free water in the sol (0.12 H2O/OR) leads to an increased hydrolytic cleavage of the heterometal bonds and to the formation of homo-condensed polysiloxanes. The condensation degree of RSiO1.5 units in the Ti-containing sols is with 30–60% relatively high in comparison to Ti-free GPTS sols (ca. 5%) whereas the condensation degree of GPTS derived gels (81%) was found to be similar to that of the Ti-containing gels (60–80%). Ti-tetraethoxide accelerates the ring opening reaction of the epoxide group in the sols in dependence on the water content. Up to 78% of the epoxide rings are opened after 24 h in the sol with the highest water content (2 H2O/OR). No epoxide rings can be detected in Ti-containing gels which derive from sols with an amount of free water of 0.12 H2O/OR. The results give a first insight into the different parallel reactions in this system and can contribute to more structure controlled syntheses of heterometal hybrid polymers.     

29Si and 17O NMR investigations on Si−O−Ti bonds in solutions of diphenylsilanediol and titanium-tetra-isopropoxide

The structural units in diphenylsilanediol/titanium-isopropoxide solutions with molar ratio Si:Ti between 1:0.1 and 1:5 were examined by means of ²⁹Si and ¹⁷O NMR. The main component in solutions with molar ratio Si/Ti=1:0.1 is the chain-like octaphenyltetrasiloxanediol. With increasing Ti-isopropoxide content (1:0.25–1:05) Si–O–Ti units of the spirocyclic titanosiloxane Ti[O₅Si₄(C₆H₅)₈]₂ prevail in the solutions accompanied by the chain-like tetrasiloxanediol. The ²⁹Si NMR spectra of 1:1 solutions indicate a lot of different Si containing building units with chemical shifts mainly between-40 and-46 ppm. The signals with a chemical shift between-40 and-46 ppm are probably caused by Si atoms which are connected via oxygen bridges directly (Si–O–Ti) or indirectly (Si–O–Si–O–Ti) with titanium. Contrary to the 1:1 solutions only one or two different species with Si–O–Ti units are present in high Ti-alkoxide containing solutions (1:5). ²⁹Si and ¹⁷O NMR results reveal a quick hydrolysis of the Ti–O–Si bonds to titanium-oxo-hydroxo-polymers and phenylsiloxanediols or their isopropyl esters after the addition of water to the solutions. This separation into species only containing either Ti–O–Ti or Si–O–Si bonds can entail a decreased homogeneity of the reaction products on a molecular level.     

The Role of 2-(Methacryloyloxy) Ethyl Acetoacetate in the Polymerization of Hybrid Multicomponent (Si, Ti, Zr) Sols

2-(Methacryloyloxy) ethylacetoacetate (MEEAH) was used as stabilyzing agent to control the chemical reactivity of Ti and Zr monomeric alkoxides in a Si—Ti—Zr sol. The organic and inorganic polymerizations were carried out simultaneously. The organic polymerization was performed using benzoyl peroxide as the initiator. The inorganic polymerization was done via the sol-gel process. The polymerization was studied by several spectroscopic techniques, including Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), UV-Vis, ²⁹Si NMR, Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Theoretical calculation and experimental results showed that MEEAH acted as a monodentate ligand, mainly. This led to a high condensation extent of the Si species in the sol. A short range order gel was obtained, according to the SAXS results. The Si—O—Ti and Si—O—Zr bonds were detected by FTIR. The bonds remained stable, because a sample calcined at 1173 K was amorphous according to the XRD results, indicating structural homogeneity.     

Design of Homogeneous Hybrid Materials through a Careful Control of the Synthetic Procedure

Sols for the synthesis of hybrid organic-inorganic materials have been prepared by mixing zirconium n-propoxide and methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS). The synthesis was done in two steps: a 15 minute hydrolysis of a MPS : H₂O : EtOH 1 : 1 : 2 mixture and then addition of 0.5 molar equivalent of zirconium alkoxide. All the experimental parameters—hydrolysis ratio, pH, dilution, pre-hydrolysis time—have been optimized through a detailed ²⁹ Si and ¹⁷O NMR analysis. Immediately after the addition, 94% of the initial water was consumed for the formation of Si–O–Zr bridges. Cleavage of these bonds, associated with formation of Si–O–Si and Zr–O–Zr bridges are then observed during the aging time.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Gelatin-Siloxane Hybrids Derived through Sol-Gel Procedure

A new type of inorganic-organic hybrid materials incorporating gelatin and 3-(glycidoxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GPSM) was prepared through sol-gel processing. A solid-state ²⁹Si NMR analysis indicated that all the methoxy silane groups of GPSM were polymerized to yield —Si—O—Si— bridging bonds. An amino acid analysis confirmed grafting reactions of GPSM against gelatin chains. The increasing GPSM/gelatin ratio stimulated gel formation, phase separation, and the density of GPSM-crosslinking of the gelatin chains as well as it changed the micro- and macro- structures and the viscoelastic properties of the final products.     

Polysiloxane-Diamine Modified Gel as Precursor to Crystalline/Amorphous Si3N4

New hybrid organic-inorganic materials are prepared by reaction of polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) with aniline (An) or 4,4-diamino,diphenyl methane (APM) through a condensation between NH₂-terminated amines and Si—H groups. The obtained modified-polysiloxane is a liquid polymer (PS-An) in the first case and a cross-linked gel (PS-APM) in the second one. The chemical structures of PS-An and PS-APM were investigated by ²⁹Si nuclear magnetic resonance and were proved to be formed of created (Si—O)₂(Me)Si—N(H)— and unreacted (Si—O)₂(Me)Si—H sites. The pyrolysis of the diamine-based gel has been carried out in N₂ atmosphere up to 1450°C. FTIR, ²⁹Si MAS NMR and X-ray diffraction have shown that Si—O and Si—C bonds are totally broken during pyrolysis and that the final product is formed of crystalline and amorphous silicon nitride in the presence of a free carbon phase.     

Organic-inorganic hybrid materials based on N=C=O functionalised silan modified with titanium and zirconium

This work investigates the influence of the precursor trimethylsilil isocyanate on the sol-gel synthesis of hybrid materials. The obtained Si−O−C−N network is additionally modified by titanium and zirconium alcoxypropoxides in the range of 10 to 30 wt. %. The structure of the obtained hybrid materials before and after pyrolysis up to 1100°C was investigated by methods of XRD, FTIR and ²⁹Si MAS NMR. We established that the hybrid structure was stable up to 600°C based on IR study. The structural transformation of the hybrid materials into oxycarbonitrogen system started at 800°C. The network of the hybrids modified by titanium remained stable and amorphous up to the final temperature of the pyrolysis (1100°C) compared to the gels modified by more than 10 wt.% Zr. It was confirmed by XRD analysis that the last mentioned are nanocomposite materials, built from carbooxynitrogen vitreous matrix and ZrO₂-nanocrystals (tetragonal). The NMR method verified the presence of heterometallic bonds (Si−O−Ti and Si−O−Zr) and Q₄, ZrQ₃ or TiQ₃, NSiO₃ and D structural units in the gels.     

Preparation and Spectroscopy of Aluminosilicate Films Deposited on Graphite Surfaces via an Anhydrous Sol-Gel Route

Anhydrous aluminosilicate sols with Al : Si molar ratio ranging from 1 : 10 to 1 : 5 were prepared by a two-step anhydrous sol-gel process, in which tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) is pre-hydrolysed by formic acid, followed by addition of aluminium ethoxide. Unlike the case of aqueous sol-gel routes, where the Si–O–Al network homogeneity is greatly restricted by precipitation of Al(OH)₃, this anhydrous route yields clear, homogeneous sols. The sol formation and densification processes were investigated by infrared spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) techniques, and the existence of Al–O–Si linkages was confirmed. To demonstrate an application of the anhydrous sol-gel process, aluminosilicate films were deposited onto graphite surfaces by dip coating and densified at 800°C under nitrogen, and their protective effect was evaluated.     

Elaboration and Characterisation of Hybrid Materials of Polymethylhydrosiloxane Modified by Diamines of Various Lengths

The polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) modified by bifunctional organic compounds (diamines), offer the possibility of producing organic-inorganic hybrid materials. These materials present excellent opto-electronic properties and find numerous applications such as the manufacture of electroluminescent diodes and ion or radiation sensors.This work shows that monolithic and transparent hybrid gels were obtained by reaction at room temperature of PMHS with diamines in tetrahydrofuran, using hexachloroplatinic acid (H₂PtCl₆·6H₂O) as catalyst. The products have been characterized by infrared and ²⁹Si MAS-NMR spectroscopy. The results show that the diamines have reacted with the PMHS leading to the monolithic and transparent gels in which both organic-inorganic —Si—(H)N—(CH₂) _n —N(H)—Si— bridges are formed (n = 3, 4 and 6). The thermal analysis of the xerogels was determined by TGA and DTA. The structure and texture of the obtained materials, were studied by Chemical Analysis and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method.     

DFT study of the mechanism of alkane hydrogenolysis by transition metal hydrides. 1. Interaction of silica-supported zirconium hydrides with methane

Model reactions of silica-supported zirconium hydrides (Si—O—)₃ZrH and (Si—O—)₂ZrH₂ with methane, resulting in cleavage of a C—H bond in the methane molecule and the formation of (Si—O—)₃ZrCH₃ and (Si—O—)₂Zr(H)CH₃ as products were studied using the DFT approach with the PBE density functional. The processes proceed as bimolecular reactions without preliminary formation of agostic complexes. According to calculations, zirconium dihydrides (Si—O—)₂ZrH₂ are more reactive toward the methane C—H bonds than zirconium monohydrides (Si—O—)₃ZrH. The calculated activation energies of the reactions with participation of zirconium dihydrides (Si—O—)₂ZrH₂ are in better agreement with the known experimental data for the Yermakov—Basset catalytic system.     

Spectroscopic Study of SiO2-TiO2 Sols Prepared Using Stabilizing Agents

Two chemical routes were employed to prepare Si−Ti polymers, using acetylacetone (acacH) and acetic acid (HOAc) as modifying agents. The homogeneous and transparent sols were studied at different aging times. The characterization techniques were²⁹Si NMR, FTIR, UV-Vis and TGA. When HOAc was used, the oligomeric species in the first stages of polymerization were assigned by²⁹ Si NMR. The Ti−O−Si bond vibration was detected by FTIR in the 950–960 cm⁻¹ region. UV-Vis spectroscopy showed bands of acac bonded to Ti at 300 nm and 365 nm, and OAc⁻ bonded to Ti was found at 320 nm. The TGA study allowed the establishment of the xerogel formulas.     

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.     

Thermal and Microchemical Characterisation of Sol-Gel SiO2, TiO2 and xSiO2–(1–x)TiO2 Ceramic Materials

Amorphous SiO₂, TiO₂ and xSiO₂–(1–x)TiO₂ ceramic materials with selected values of x 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9, have been prepared via sol-gel process using silicon tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and titanium tetraisopropoxide Ti(OPri)₄. By means of the combined use of differential thermal analysis (DTA),thermogravimetry (TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray induced Auger electron spectroscopy(XAES), the surface microchemical structure and morphology of the sol-gel materials have been studied as a function of thermal treatments carried out in air up to 1200°C. In the range of temperature from 50 to 450°C, DTA-TG results evidence a remarkable mass loss due to the evaporation of organic solvents entrapped in the sol-gel materials and of the remnant organic components of the precursor metal alkoxides. In the range of temperature from 400 to about 1000°C, by means of the combined use of DTA, XRD, XPS and XAES techniques as a function of temperature and of chemical composition, it is possible to evidence the formation of crystalline phases such as quartz, anatase and rutile. Furthermore, line shape analysis of O1s XPS peak allows to distinguish between single O–Ti and O–Si bonds and also to disclose the presence of cross linking Si–O–Ti bonds, that act as bridges between SiO₂and TiO₂ moieties. As a function of temperature, Si–O–Ti bonds are broken and the formation of new Ti–O and Si–O bonds as in TiO₂ and SiO₂takes place as well as a silica segregation phenomenon. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Calculations of silicooxygen ring vibration frequencies

In the work model calculations of the vibrations of ideally isolated silicooxygen rings (using PM3 method) have been carried out. three-, four-, and six-membered rings have been considered. It has been found that that the three-membered silicooxygen rings are flat and practically undeformed showing D_3h symmetry. The rings of higher number of ring members (i.e. n>3) are deformed to some extent. The deformation reveals itself most significantly in the Si–O–Si bond angles distribution. In the case of all the rings the bridging Si–O–Si bonds are ca. 0.02–0.04 Å shorter than the non-bridging Si–O⁻ bonds. Hypothetical IR spectra for all the rings considered have been also calculated. Analysis of these hypothetical spectra leads to the conclusion that the whole spectrum can be divided into four wavenumbers regions, 1200–1100 cm⁻¹ stretching Si–O(Si) vibrations; 1000–800 cm⁻¹ stretching Si–O⁻ vibrations; 800–600 cm⁻¹; the region in which a band characteristic of silicooxygen rings appears, and below 600 cm⁻¹ bending ⁻O–Si–O⁻ and (Si)O–Si–O(Si). It has been also found that as the number of ring members increases the ‘ring band’ shifts to lower wavenumbers: 725 cm⁻¹ for three-membered rings, 650 cm⁻¹ for four-membered rings and 610 cm⁻¹ for six-membered rings. Calculated spectra have been compared with the experimental spectra of cyclosilicates. They showed good agreement in the 1200–600 cm⁻¹ region. In the experimental spectra as well as in the calculated ones, with increasing the number of ring members the ‘ring band’ shifts towards lower wavenumbers.     

Über Heterocyclen mit einer Si−Si-Bindung

New heterocyclic ring systems with one Si–Si linkage and two oxygen atoms were synthesized and characterized by analysis, NMR and Raman spectroscopy. The Si–Si vibration shows, that in these cycles there are no additional interactions between the electron system of the Si–Si bond and the carbon–carbon or the Si–O bonds.     

Siloxane-Based Nanobuilding Blocks by Reaction Between Silanediol and Trifunctional Silicon Alkoxides

The preparation of nanostructured organic-inorganic materials by assembling of nanobuilding blocks allows controlling the extent of phase interaction, which in its turn governs structure-properties relationships. We present here the synthesis of siloxane-based nanobuilding blocks prepared by reacting diphenylsilanediol with vinyltriethoxysilane and triethoxysilane. The reaction products were obtained by non-hydrolytic condensation between silanediol and ethoxide groups in inert atmosphere, in the presence of pyridine, triethylamine or butyl lithium. Different synthetic conditions were examined by means of ATR-FTIR and NMR spectroscopies, showing the formation of siloxane bonds. In the case of triethoxysilane the reaction carried out in the presence of pyridine leads to Si–H bond preservation in the final product. Air stable products with improved Si–O–Si hydrolytic stability can be obtained by removal of the base after the reaction completion. The condensation products can be described as a mixture of siloxane rings involving difunctional and trifunctional silicon units.     

Study of the Lead Environment in Liquid and As-Dried Precursors of PZ, PT and PZT Thin Films

The environment of lead and zirconium atoms in liquid and as-dried precursors for PbZrO3 (PZ), PbTiO3 (PT) and Pb1.1Zr0.53Ti0.47O3 (PZT) thin film deposition were analyzed by EXAFS. The sols were prepared by 2-methoxyethanol route with lead acetate and lead oxide as lead sources. Pb—O—M (M = Zr and/or Ti, depending on the sol composition) linkages were determined in all sols. The choice of lead source weakly influences the lead environment, and strongly influences that of zirconium in both PZ and PZT sols. By drying lead oxide based sols the Pb–M correlation is moderately reduced in PZ, PT and is strongly reduced in PZT.     

Ion Beam Induced Conversion of Si-Based Polymers and Gels Layers into Ceramics Coatings

The transformations induced by ion irradiation in films of polycarbosilane and gels derived from tetraethoxysilane, methyltriethoxysilane and triethoxysilane have been studied. Hydrogen is released selectively under the effect of electronic excitations at a rate depending on the probability of H radicals to combine for forming molecules inside the film. The radiolysis efficiency of C—H bonds is the lowest and that of Si—H bonds the highest. Beside the conversion of the polymeric structure into an amorphous ceramic, ion irradiation induces the precipitation of C or Si clusters, according to the precursor, leading to a noticeable luminescence in the visible. This precipitation has been put into evidence for the first time by energy filtered electron microscopy.     

Scratch-Resistant Improvement of Sol-Gel Derived Nano-Porous Silica Films

Scratch-resistance of sol-gel derived nano porous silica films were studied. The thin films were prepared with a dip-coating method from both one-step and two-step catalyzed silica sols, and treated in a mixture gas of ammonia and water vapour afterwards. The thin films were characterized by using Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), ellipsometer, Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscope (FTIR), respectively. Experimental results have shown that the two-step catalysis remarkably improves strength of the films, and abrasion-resistance and adhesion of the silica films were further increased after the mixture gas treatment. It is attributed to the cross-linking of silica particles in the sols by randomly branched or/and entangled linear chains and more Si–O–Si bonds formed by the mixture gas treatment.     

Establishing the difference between colloidal borosilicate and boron-modified colloidal silica via chelation of boron with catechol and dl-tartaric acid

Colloidal borosilicate and boron-modified colloidal silica sols were studied by ¹¹B NMR. Formation of B–O–Si chemical bonds is established in both materials. It is shown that boron present in colloidal borosilicate is stable towards the action of complexing agents catechol and tartaric acid. In contrast, the boron in boron-modified silica is readily complexed by these agents. The results presented herein demonstrate that B–O–Si bonds are homogeneously distributed throughout the colloidal borosilicate disperse phase, while in boron-modified colloidal silica they are concentrated at the surface of colloidal silica particles.