Analytical applications of organically modified silicates

Inorganic-organic hybrid materials prepared by the sol-gel process have become an attractive field of study due to the immense versatility associated with this method of composite material preparation. The blending of inorganic precursors with organosilicon reagents enables unique materials to be fabricated with the desired chemical and physical characteristics. The ability to control the interfacial polarity, the degree of porosity, and the chemical functionality in the matrix has been shown to be a powerful tool in the design of materials for sensor, optical, chromatographic, and catalytic applications. In this review, the preparation of the organically modified silicates (ORMOSILs) where the individual precursors are covalently bound to each other is discussed and selected examples of their potential usefulness in analytical applications is presented.