Composites with photosensitive 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin entrapped into silica gels

Photosensitive cationic 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridinio)porphyrin (TMPyP) was entrapped into microporous silica gels prepared by sol–gel method from tetrakis(2-hydroxyethoxy)silane (THES) and tetramethoxysilane (TMOS), resp., using different water and PEG 600 contents in the initial mixture. The absorption spectra of both composites showed that incorporation of TMPyP has led to a bathochomic shift (ca. 8 nm) of the Soret band and to a decrease in their molar absorption coefficient compared to TMPyP in solution. The TMPyP encapsulation kept the molecular state of the porphyrin in the free-base monomer form. In comparison to TMOS analogs, THES composites showed prolonged shape stability at least for 3 months, one-order higher rate of chemical substrate photooxidation and higher photobiocidal activity against E. coli.     

Influence of molar ratios of precursor,catalyst, solvent and water on monolithicity and physical properties of TMOS silica aerogels

In continuation to our earlier work on aerogels, the experimental results on the monolithicity and physical properties of silica aerogels as a function of the molar ratios of tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) precursor, catalyst (NH₄OH), methanol (MeOH) solvent and water, are reported. The molar ratios of NH₄OH/TMOS, MeOH/TMOS and H₂O/TMOS were varied from 7.1 × 10^–6 to 9.6 × 10^–1, 1 to 90 and 1 to 18 respectively. It has been found that larger molar ratios of NH₄OH/TMOS (10^–2), MeOH/TMOS (13 to 60) and H₂O/TMOS (>10) resulted in transparent but cracked aerogels, and very low molar ratios of these combinations gave monolithic but less transparent or opaque aerogels. The best quality silica aerogels, in terms of monolithicity, transparency and low density, have been obtained with TMOS:MeOH:H₂O:NH₄OH in the molar ratio of 1:12:4:3.7 × 10^–3 respectively. The aerogels have been characterized by density, optical transmission, surface area and porosity measurements. The results have been discussed by taking into account the hydrolysis and condensation reactions, and syneresis effects.     

Poly(amide-imide)-Silica Gel Hybrids: Synthesis and Characterization

Several poly(amide-imide)-silica gel hybrids containing metal salts were prepared by the sol-gel reaction. Poly(amide-imide)s were prepared by low temperature polycondensation reaction of trimellitic anhydride (TMA) and diisocyanates [isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), toluene diisocyanate (TDI), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), and 4,4′-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI). The inherent viscosities of the poly(amide-imide)s obtained ranged from 0.39–0.69 dL/g in DMAc. The hydrolysis and condensation reaction of tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) to form a silica gel network was affected in DMAc containing 5% LiCl, CaCl₂ or ZnCl₂ during the formation of poly(amide-imide)s. Films could be cast from DMAc solution and gradual evaporation of the solvent afforded pale yellow to amber colored hybrids in which the salts were dispersed at the molecular level. About 30–60% polymer was incorporated in the hybrids. Pyrolysis of the polymer silica gel hybrid samples at 600°C resulted in the formation of porous silica. Pore size and surface area studies on representative porous silica gels, SiG–4, SiG–5, and SiG–8, obtained upon the pyrolysis of the corresponding hybrids HPAI-4, HPAI-5 and HPAI-8, indicated that the silica gels were mesoporous in nature and had narrow pore size distribution (pore radius = 1.8 nm) with a surface area of 371 m²/g, 335 m²/g and 300 m²/g, respectively. The bottle shaped pores exhibited a pore volume of 0.227 cm³/g, 0.314 cm³/g and 0.280 cm³/g, respectively. Computer simulation modeling studies indicated that the poly(amide-imide) chains were not coiled and there was no agglomeration of the chains.     

Fabrication and characterization of hexagonal mesoporous silica monolith via post-synthesized hydrothermal process

Large-sized, optical transparent mesostructured Brij 56/silica monolith has been fabricated using a lyotropic liquid crystal of Brij 56 (C₁₆EO₁₀) as a template and TMOS as a silica source, combined with a optimizing sol-gel process and a hydrothermal aging process. By programmed temperature drying and calcinations, translucent mesoporous silica monolith with two-dimensional hexagonal structure (P6mm) has bee obtained. The ordered mesoporous silica monoliths have been characterized by small-angle X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen adsorption, which shows that the materials have a highly ordered two-dimensional hexagonal mesostructure with the high specific surface area of 837 m² · g⁻¹ and narrow pore distribution with a mean BJH pore diameter of 2.73 nm. Based on calculations and differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses, the action mechanism of the hydrothermal aging process has been proposed: the 100°C hydrothermal conditions and autogenous 2.3 atm pressure promote the condensation and dehydration of silanol groups, with the result that cross-linking degree, the flaws and moisture content in gels are reduced notably. Those processes guarantee the integrity of gels in the following drying process.     

快速制备高掺杂CuO/SiO2复合气凝胶

通过环氧丙烷预反应法, 以乙腈为溶剂快速制备了高掺杂的氧化铜/二氧化硅复合气凝胶. 在典型的合成过程中, 将正硅酸甲酯(TMOS)、乙腈、去离子水和环氧丙烷混合进行预反应, 然后将该溶液与氯化铜的乙腈-水溶液混合并添加环氧丙烷, 在35℃烘箱中静置0.5 h 后转化为湿凝胶, 再经过CO₂超临界流体干燥和热处理即可获得黑色块状CuO/SiO₂复合气凝胶. 最终气凝胶样品密度约为180 mg·cm^-3, 比表面积高达625 m2·g^-1, 平均掺杂比为19.91%±2.42% (Cu:Si 摩尔比), 压缩模量为1.639 MPa, 具有成型性好、分散均匀等优点,是良好的背光源靶材料. 本论文还通过对比实验对凝胶化过程的机理进行分析, 结果表明, 通过改变溶剂和采用环氧丙烷预催化均衡了两种不同前驱体的反应速率, 实现了共凝胶的目的. 此外, 该方法还有望为其它金属氧化物/二氧化硅复合气凝胶的制备提供新思路.     

Hydrophobic silica aerogels prepared via rapid supercritical extraction

Hydrophobic silica aerogels have been prepared using the rapid supercritical extraction (RSCE) technique. The RSCE technique is a one-step methanol supercritical extraction method for producing aerogel monoliths in 3 to 8 h. Standard aerogels were prepared from a tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) recipe with a molar ratio of TMOS:MeOH:H₂O:NH₄OH of 1.0:12.0:4.0:7.4 × 10⁻³. Hydrophobic aerogels were prepared using the same recipe except the TMOS was replaced with a mixture of TMOS and one of the following organosilane co-precursors: methytrimethoxysilane (MTMS), ethyltrimethoxysilane (ETMS), or propyltrimeth-oxysilane (PTMS). Results show that, by increasing the amount of catalyst and increasing gelation time, monolithic aerogels can be prepared out of volume mixtures including up to 75% MTMS, 50% ETMS or 50% PTMS in 7.5–15 h. As the amount of co-precursor is increased the aerogels become more hydrophobic (sessile tests with water droplets yield contact angles up to 155°) and less transparent (transmission through a 12.2-mm thick sample decreases from 83 to 50% at 800 nm). The skeletal and bulk density decrease and the surface area increases (550–760 m²/g) when TMOS is substituted with increasing amounts of MTMS. The amount of co-precursor does not affect the thermal conductivity. SEM imaging shows significant differences in the nanostructure for the most hydrophobic surfaces.     

Biomaterials obtained by gelation of silica precursor with CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> saturated water containing a carbonic anhydrase enzyme

As part of an effort to develop biomaterials for the capture of CO₂ catalyzed by a carbonic anhydrase enzyme, the effects of an aqueous CO₂ saturated solution and a carbonic anhydrase on the gelation and texture of SiO₂ gels derived from tetramethoxysilane (TMOS), were studied. Both aqueous CO₂ and the enzyme were found to accelerate the gelation of silica, with a stronger effect when both the enzyme and CO₂ saturated aqueous water, were used. According to the gel texture data, aqueous CO₂ acted as an acid type catalyst, while the carbonic anhydrase acted as a weak base type catalyst. Moreover, a gel with a more granular visual aspect was obtained when both the enzyme and CO₂ saturated water were used. The latter characteristic was consistent with a double action of the enzyme, first as a gelation catalyst on the silica precursor, secondly as a reverse protonation catalyst which accelerated the back nucleation of CO₂ gas bubbles from aqueous HCO₃ ⁻ anions.     

Application of Protonic Acid-Doped Silica Gels to Electric Double-Layer Capacitors

Silica gels doped with several protonic acids such as HClO₄, H₂SO₄ and H₃PO₄ have been prepared by the sol-gel method and totally solid electric double-layer capacitors have been successfully fabricated using the highly proton-conductive silica gels as an electrolyte and activated carbon powder (ACP) hybridized with the silica gels as a polarizable electrode. It was found that the addition of HClO₄, which had the highest value of acid dissociation constant among these three acids, most effectively increased the proton conductivity of the resultant acid-doped silica gels. Tablets of the HClO₄-doped silica gels exhibited conductivities as high as 10^–5–10^–2 S cm^–1 at room temperature in dry N₂ atmosphere. One of the capacitors fabricated using the protonic acid-doped silica gels had a capacitance of 44 F/(gram of total ACP in the capacitor), which was comparable to those of conventional capacitors using liquid electrolytes.     

Effective preparation of crack-free silica aerogels via ambient drying

Effective ambient-drying techniques for synthesizing crack-free silica aerogel bulks from the industrial waterglass have been developed. Silica wet gels were obtained from aqueous colloidal silica sols prepared by ion-exchange of waterglass solution (4–10 wt% SiO₂). Crack-free monolithic silica aerogel disks (diameter of 22 mm and thickness of 7 mm) were produced via solvent exchange/surface modification of the wet gels using isopropanol/trimethylchlorosilane/n-Hexane solution, followed by ambient drying. The effects of the silica content in sol and the molar ratio of trimethylchlorosilane/pore water on the morphology and property of final aerogel products were also investigated. The porosity, density, and specific surface area of silica aerogels were in the range of 92–94%, 0.13–0.16 g/cm³, and ∼675 m²/g, respectively. The degree of springback during the ambient drying processing of modified silica gels was 94%.     

Polyimide–Silica Gel Hybrids Containing Metal Salts: Preparation via the Sol–Gel Reaction

A facile preparation of polyimide–silica gel hybrids by the simultaneous in-situ formation of polyimides during the hydrolysis–condensation of tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) is reported here. The hydrolysis and condensation of TMOS was carried out in a solution of DMAc containing 5% LiCl, CaCl₂ or ZnCl₂ and the seven-membered cyclic polyimide intermediate. The seven-membered cyclic intermediates, precursors of polyimides, were derived from the low-temperature polycondensation of dianhydrides [benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), and 4,4-bis(hexafluoroisopropylidene)phthalic dianhydride (6FDA)] and di-isocyanates [isophorone di-isocyanate (IPDI), toluene di-isocyanate (TDI), hexamethylene di-isocyanate (HDI) and 4,4′-diphenylmethane di-isocyanate (MDI)]. These intermediates could readily be converted to the corresponding polyimides. Films were cast from the resulting mixtures and the solvent was gradually evaporated at 130 °C to result in the formation of clear, transparent, pale yellow or amber-colored hybrid films in which the salts were dispersed at the molecular level. Pyrolysis of polyimide–silica gel hybrids at 600 °C gave mesoporous silica. Silica gel obtained from hybrids HPI-8 (containing no salt) and HPI-11 (containing ZnCl₂) had a pore radius (BJH method) of 2.9 nm, while that from hybrid HPI-9 (containing LiCl) had a pore radius of 11.4 nm. The surface areas (BET method) obtained were 203 m² g⁻¹, 19 m² g⁻¹ and 285 m² g⁻¹, while the pore volumes were 0.373 cm³ g⁻¹, 0.158 cm³ g⁻¹ and 0.387 cm³ g⁻¹, respectively, for samples obtained from hybrids HPI-8, HPI-9 and HPI-11. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Organic–inorganic hybrid materials. I. Characterization and degradation of poly(imide–silica) hybrids

Poly(imide–silica) hybrid materials with covalent bonds were prepared by (3-aminopropyl)methyldiethoxysilane (APrMDEOS) terminated amic acid, water, and tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) via a sol–gel technique. Infrared (IR), ²⁹Si and ¹³C CP/MAS nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to study hybrids containing various proportions of TMOS and hydrolysis ratios. The microstructure and chain mobility of hybrids were investigated by proton spin–spin relaxation T₂ measurements. The apparent activation energy E_a for degradation of hybrids in air was studied by the van Krevelen method. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2275–2284, 1999     

Luminescence properties of sol-gel derived silica gels doped and undoped with RE-complexes(RE=Eu,Tb)

The luminescence properties of silica gels and silica gels doped with two rare earth complexes,Eu(TTA)3 and Tb(o-CBA)3 (TTA=thenoyltrifluocetate,o-CBA=o-chlorobenzoic acid) are reported and discussed.Pure silica gels show a blue luminescence,and the maximum excitation and emission wavelengths depend strongly on the solvents used.Both of the studied rare earth complexes exhibit the characteristic emissions of the rare earth ions in silica gels,i.e.,Eu3+5 Do→7 FJ(J=0,1,2,3,4),Tb3+5D4→7FJ(J=3,4,5,6) transitions.Compared with the pure RE-complexes powder,the silica gels doped with RE-complexes show fewer emission lines of the rare earth ions.Furthermore the rare earth ion (Tb3+) presents a longer lifetime (1346μs) in silica gel doped with Tb(o-CBA)3 than in pure Tb(o-CBA)3 powder (744μs).The reasons responsible for these results are discussed in the context.     

Intramolecular Oxidative O‐Demethylation of an Oxoferryl Porphyrin Complexed with a Per‐O‐methylated β‐Cyclodextrin Dimer

The intramolecular oxidation of ROCH₃ to ROCH₂OH, where the latter compound spontaneously decomposed to ROH and HCHO, was observed during the reaction of the supramolecular complex (met‐hemoCD3) with cumene hydroperoxide in aqueous solution. Met‐hemoCD3 is composed of meso‐tetrakis(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphinatoiron(III) (Fe^IIITPPS) and a per‐O‐methylated β‐cyclodextrin dimer having an ‐OCH₂PyCH₂O‐ linker (Py=pyridine‐3,5‐diyl). The O=Fe^IVTPPS complex was formed by the reaction of met‐hemoCD3 with cumene hydroperoxide, and isolated by gel‐filtration chromatography. Although the isolated O=Fe^IVTPPS complex in the cyclodextrin cage was stable in aqueous solution at 25 °C, it was gradually converted to Fe^IITPPS (t_1/2=7.6 h). This conversion was accompanied by oxidative O‐demethylation of an OCH₃ group in the cyclodextrin dimer. The results indicated that hydrogen abstraction by O=Fe^IVTPPS from ROCH₃ yields HO‐Fe^IIITPPS and ROCH₂^.. This was followed by radical coupling to afford Fe^IITPPS and ROCH₂OH. The hemiacetal (ROCH₂OH) immediately decomposed to ROH and HCHO. This study revealed the ability of oxoferryl porphyrin to induce two‐electron oxidation.     

Effect of process parameters on the polymer mediated synthesis of silica at neutral pH

We report herein the synthesis of well-defined silica structures atneutral pH and ambient conditions using poly(allylamine hydrochloride)(PAH), a cationically charged synthetic polymer, as a catalyst/template.Tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) was used as the precursor and the synthesisprocess parameters varied include TMOS pre-hydrolysis time(t_P), reaction time (t_R), buffer, molecular weightof the polymer, TMOS concentration, polymer concentration andperturbation of the reaction mixture. It was found that the TMOSpre-hydrolysis time was an important parameter governing the resultingsilica morphology along with the reaction time and the TMOSconcentration. Characterization of the silica was performed using SEM,FTIR, EDS and XRD. The poly(allylamine hydrochloride), which was thecatalyst/template, was found to be incorporated into the silicaparticles. These findings are of importance for understanding the roleof polypeptides, in nature, and macromolecules, in general, that arecapable of forming similar silica structures.     

29Si MAS-NMR Study of Silica Gels and Xerogels: Influence of the Catalyst

Four silica gels were prepared by hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in ethanol, using different catalysts: HCl, NaOH, NH₃, and NBu₄F. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms indicated that the HCl-catalyzed xerogel was purely microporous, whereas the other samples exhibited a very broad distribution of mesopores and a variable amount of micropores. ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectroscopy of the wet gels (before drying) pointed to a low degree of condensation for the HCl-catalyzed gel, and to the presence of unhydrolyzed TEOS monomer in the NaOH-catalyzed gel. Comparison with the ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectra of the xerogels indicated a significant increase of the degree of condensation during the drying procedure (3 hrs at 120°C under vacuum) for the HCl-catalyzed gel.     

New Linear and Star‐Shaped Thermogelling Poly([R]‐3‐hydroxybutyrate) Copolymers

The synthesis of multi‐arm poly([R]‐3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)‐based triblock copolymers (poly([R]‐3‐hydroxybutyrate)‐b‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐b‐[[poly(methyl ether methacrylate)‐g‐poly(ethylene glycol)]‐co‐[poly(methacrylate)‐g‐poly(propylene glycol)]], PHB‐b‐PNIPAAM‐b‐(PPEGMEMA‐co‐PPPGMA), and their subsequent self‐assembly into thermo‐responsive hydrogels is described. Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAM) followed by poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEMA) and poly(propylene glycol) methacrylate (PPGMA) was achieved from bromoesterified multi‐arm PHB macroinitiators. The composition of the resulting copolymers was investigated by ¹H and ¹³C J‐MOD NMR spectroscopy as well as size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The copolymers featuring different architectures and distinct hydrophilic/hydrophobic contents were found to self‐assemble into thermo‐responsive gels in aqueous solution. Rheological studies indicated that the linear one‐arm PHB‐based copolymer tend to form a micellar solution, whereas the two‐ and four‐arm PHB‐based copolymers afforded gels with enhanced mechanical properties and solid‐like behavior. These investigations are the first to correlate the gelation properties to the arm number of a PHB‐based copolymer. All copolymers revealed a double thermo‐responsive behavior due to the NIPAAM and PPGMA blocks, thus allowing first the copolymer self‐assembly at room temperature, and then the delivery of a drug at body temperature (37 °C). The non‐significant toxic response of the gels, as assessed by the cell viability of the CCD‐112CoN human fibroblast cell line with different concentrations of the triblock copolymers ranging from 0.03 to 1 mg mL^?1, suggest that these PHB‐based thermo‐responsive gels are promising candidate biomaterials for drug‐delivery applications.     

Viscosity,particle size distribution,and structural investigation of tetramethyloxysilane/2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate sols during the sol–gel process with acid and base catalysts

The tetramethoxysilane (TMOS)/2‐hydroxylethyl methacrylate (HEMA) hybrid gels were synthesized with acid and base catalysts, via the in situ polymerization of HEMA, with and without the cosolvent methanol. With methanol in the TMOS/HEMA sol, the enhanced esterification and depolymerization reactions of the silanols resulted in a slower growth of silica particles. The silica particles that were synthesized with an acid catalyst were less than 40 nm. The thermal resistance of the poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) chains was enhanced by the addition of colloidal silica. The Fourier transform infrared characterizations and the exothermal peaks on the differential scanning calorimetry traces of these hybrid gels indicated chemical hybridization occurring as a result of condensation of the colloid silica and PHEMA at higher temperatures. Hence, the residual weight content of the hybrid gel after its synthesis with the base catalyst was even higher than the content of TMOS in the hybrid sol. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3476–3486, 2004     

Induction and Acceleration of Bonelike Apatite Formation on Tantalum Oxide Gel in Simulated Body Fluid

Untreated tantalum metal forms bonelike apatite layer on its surface in a simulated body fluid (SBF) after a long period. The apatite formation on the tantalum metal is significantly accelerated, when the metal was previously subjected to NaOH and heat treatments to form an amorphous sodium tantalate on its surface. The fast formation of the apatite on the NaOH- and heat-treated tantalum metal was explained as follows. The sodium tantalate on the surface of the metal releases the Na⁺ ion via exchange with H₃O⁺ ion in SBF to form a lot of Ta-OH groups on its surface. Thus formed Ta-OH groups induce the apatite nucleation and the released Na⁺ ion accelerates the apatite nucleation by increasing ionic activity product of the apatite in SBF due to increase in OH^– ion concentration. In the present study, in order to confirm this explanation, apatite formations on sodium tantalate gels with different Na/Ta atomic ratios, which were prepared by a sol-gel method were investigated. It was found that even Na₂O-free tantalum oxide gel forms the apatite on its surface in SBF. This proves that the Ta-OH groups abundant on the gel can induce the apatite nucleation. The apatite-forming ability of the gels increased with increasing Na/Ta atomic ratios of the gels. The sodium-containing tantalum oxide gels released the Na⁺ ion, the amount of which increased with increasing Na/Ta atomic ratios of the gels. The released Na⁺ ion gave an increase in pH of SBF. These results prove that the apatite nucleation induced by the Ta-OH groups is accelerated with the released Na⁺ ion by increasing ionic activity product of the apatite in SBF.     

Silica dissolution as a route to octaanionic silsesquioxanes

The octaanion, [OSiO_1.5]₈^8? (OA) is a low cost, discrete nano silica particle that can be made directly from high surface area, amorphous silica reacted with Me₄NOH in water alcohol mixtures. It would be ideal if Me₄NOH could be formed in situ from, for example, Me₄NCl and NaOH, as long known in the literature. This process would reduce costs and enable recycling of Me₄NCl produced in the functionalization of OA with chlorosilanes, RMe₂SiCl, to form [RMe₂SiOSiO_1.5]₈ organic/inorganic hybrid nanobuilding blocks. Kinetic studies were conducted to assess base‐promoted dissolution of fumed silica (25 m 2 /g) as a function of concentrations, times, etc., to form the octaanion [OSiO_1.5]₈^8? using Me₄NOH, NaOH and mixtures of NaOH/Me₄NCl. Surprisingly, we find that small amounts of Me₄NCl greatly inhibit the dissolution reaction for reasons that are as yet unknown. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Selective separation behavior of silica gel for zirconium in simulated high level radioactive liquid waste

Zirconium in simulated high level radioactive liquid waste (HLLW) was selectively adsorbed and separated by self-made high adsorption activity silica gel. The selective adsorption mechanism was analyzed according to the structure character of self-made silica gel and performance of zirconium in acid simulated HLLW. The results show that the adsorption selectivity of self-made silica gel for zirconium is strong, because zirconium has higher positive charge and zirconium ion hydrolyzes easily. Distribution coefficient of self-made silica gels for zirconium is 53.5 ml/g. There are 6.5 (OH)/nm² on the surface on self-made silica gels which provide more adsorption activity places, thus self-made silica gels have higher adsorption capacity for zirconium (31.4 mg/g). The elution rate of the adsorption of zirconium on self-made silica gel by 0.2 mol/l H₂C₂O₄ is more than 99%. The solubility of the self-made silica gel in nitric acid is low, the chemical stability of self-made silica gel is very strong.