17O-NMR of Sol-Gel Processes of TEOS and TMOS

Water consumption and formation in the acid catalyzed sol-gel processing of TEOS and TMOS can be followed using 17O-NMR. By using 17O-enriched water, insight into the hydrolysis and condensation in the acid step of the sol-gel process can be obtained. It is found that, after initially strong consumption of water due to hydrolysis, a steady state water concentration results. This amount of water increases upon dilution of the reaction mixture with alcohol. For a hydrolyzed TMOS-methanol-water system lower water contents are found than in a comparable TEOS-ethanol system. Addition of ethanol to a hydrolyzed TMOS methanol system enhances the condensation and a higher water concentration is found.     

Sol-gel kinetics for the synthesis of multi-component glass materials

Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) FTIR has been used to follow sol-gel synthesis kinetics for tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), ethanol, and water solutions yielding pure silicate materials. Aluminosilicates have also been made using TEOS:ethanol:water solutions doped with Al(III). Effective rate constants have been fitted to a kinetic model suggested by the literature for pure silicate materials. This model has been extended to include the effect of Al(III) on the rate constants. The effects of solution pH, temperature, and varying TEOS/Ethanol mole ratios have been investigated. Reliable effective rate constants for metal doped sol-gel solutions will lead to better control of the morphological and chemical properties of multi-component glass materials.     

Fabrication and characterization of TEOS-based silica aerogels prepared using rapid supercritical extraction

Silica aerogels were prepared using the precursor tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) via a rapid supercritical extraction (RSCE) method. Multiple consistent batches of monolithic TEOS-based aerogels were fabricated via an 8-h RSCE process. Fabricating TEOS-based aerogels with an RSCE method offers some distinct advantages. One advantage is the relative simplicity of the RSCE approach: liquid precursors are mixed and poured into a metal mold in a hydraulic hot-press, where gelation, aging and extraction of liquid from the pores occur. The precursor recipe employs TEOS, ethanol, water, oxalic acid to catalyze hydrolysis, and ammonia to catalyze the subsequent polycondensation reactions. Another advantage is that reaction of TEOS to form sol gels yields ethanol as a byproduct. A process that releases ethanol, rather than methanol (as in tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS)-based aerogels) may be more appealing for commercial applications, involving scale-up of the process. The significantly lower cost of TEOS, compared to TMOS, is a considerable advantage. The TEOS-based RSCE aerogels are mesoporous and optically translucent, have bulk densities of 0.099(±0.003) g/cm³ and surface areas of 460(±10) m²/g. Signals observed in infrared and Raman spectra of the aerogels are consistent with Si–O framework bonds. Using scanning electron microscopy imaging, the surface morphology of the aerogel samples was imaged at magnifications up to 150 kX.     

Silicalite-1 growth from clear solution: Effect of alcohol identity and content on growth kinetics

In situ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is used to investigate the influence of alcohol identity and content on silicalite-1 growth from clear solutions at 368 K. Several tetraalkyl orthosilicates (Si(OR)4, R = Me, Pr, and Bu) are used to synthesize silicalite-1 from clear solution mixtures comparable to those previously investigated (i.e. 1:0.36:20 TEOS:TPAOH:H2O (TEOS = tetraethyl orthosilicate; TPAOH = tetrapropylammonium hydroxide), 368 K). All TPAOH-organosiloxane mixtures studied form silica nanoparticles after aging at room temperature for 24 h. Full-profile fitting analysis of the SAXS data indicates the particles are ellipsoidal and is inconsistent with the presence of "nanoslabs" or "nanoblocks". Synthesis using TEOS as the silica source have an induction period of approximately 7.5 h and a growth rate of 1.90 +/- 0.10 nm/h at 368 K. Changing the silica source to tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) does not change the induction period; however the particle growth rate is decreased to 1.65 +/- 0.09 nm/h at 368 K. Variable-temperature SAXS measurements for syntheses with TEOS and TMOS show the activation energy for silicalite-1 growth is 60.0 +/- 2.9 and 73.9 +/- 2.8 kJ/mol, respectively, indicating the alcohol identity does influence the growth rate. By mixing tetrapropyl orthosilicate (TPOS) with TEOS (1.6:1.0 molar ratio) as the silica source, the precursor solution shows a shorter induction period (6.0 h) and a faster particle growth rate (2.16 +/- 0.06 nm/h). The alcohol identity effect is more pronounced when other organocations (e.g. alkyltripropylammonium cations) are used to make silicalite-1 at 368 K. Removing ethanol from the precursor solution decreases the induction period to approximately 4.5 h and increases the particle growth rate to 2.99 +/- 0.13 nm/h. Mixtures with 2 equiv of ethanol have an induction period and particle growth rate of 6.0 h and 2.04 +/- 0.03 nm/h, respectively. The results demonstrate the alcohol identity and content influence silicalite-1 growth kinetics. One possible explanation is varying the alcohol identity and content changes the strength of the hydrophobic hydration of the structure-directing agent and the water-alcohol interaction, resulting in less efficient interchange between clathrated water molecules and solvated silicate species.     

Optimization of Ormosil Films for Optical Sensor Applications

Recent work has indicated that Ormosil films, fabricated from organically modified precursors, produce better sensor performance for some specific applications, compared to films fabricated from conventional sol-gel precursors such as TEOS or TMOS. This paper aims to compare film properties and sensor behavior for films fabricated from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) silica precursors and both methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) and methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) organically modified precursors. Microstructural differences, for example, porosity changes due to the different precursor backbone structures, are interrogated by monitoring oxygen gas and aqueous-phase sensor response. Oxygen sensing using these films is enabled by incorporating in the films an oxygen-sensitive ruthenium dye whose fluorescence is quenched in the presence of oxygen. Film properties such as thickness, thickness stabilization time, as well as sensor response, are discussed in terms of relative hydrolysis and condensation behavior for the different precursors. Film hydrophobicity, an issue which has been identified as being of crucial importance for optimum dissolved oxygen sensor response, is discussed and contact angle measurements are used to investigate the degree of hydrophobicity for different film types. The main motivation for this work is film optimization for optical gas-phase and dissolved oxygen sensors.     

Hydrocarbon dispersion of nanospherical silica by a sol–gel process. 2. Alkoxysilane copolymerization

The preparation of hydrocarbon dispersions of nanospherical silica-silicone hybrids by copolymerization of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and alkylethoxysilanes such as methyltriethoxysilane (MTEOS) and dimethyldiethoxysilane using a sol-gel process was investigated. Particles completely dispersible in hexane with a diameter in the range 10-24 nm were obtained by means of TEOS and MTEOS copolymerization, using ethanol or methanol as a solvent and a terminator. The solubility of the nanospheres was shown to be dependent on the molar ratio of water to silicon, the reaction time, the terminator concentration as well as the stirring condition. The hexane-dispersible particles have hydroxyl and methyl groups on the surface. A higher conversion of organophilic silica-silicon nanoparticles was attained using trimethylchlorosilane as a terminator and a water-to-silicon molar ratio close to 9.     

DFT和热力学研究氢键协同效应及对关联1H NMR的影响

用DFT方法在B3LYP/6-311＋＋G (d,p)水平下研究了甲醇线性和环状分子簇. 对于不同大小的分子簇之间定义了协同因子. 计算得到的协同因子可以验证氢键的强协同效应, 环状分子簇之间的协同效应远远大于线性分子簇. 做为理论验证和比较, 热力学模型分别采用含氢键缔合的格子流体状态方程(LFHB), 以及含氢键协同效应的LFHB, 关联醇-惰性体系的¹H核磁共振化学位移. 考虑协同效应的关联结果优于原始的LFHB. 比较量子化学计算的和热力学模型中采用的协同因子, 认为甲醇和乙醇在溶液中更可能大部分以线性缔合形式存在.     

DFT和热力学研究氢键协同效应及对关联1H NMR的影响

用DFT方法在B3LYP／6—311 G(d,p)水平下研究了甲醇线性和环状分子簇．对于不同大小的分子簇之间定义了协同因子,计算得到的协同因子可以验证氢键的强协同效应,环状分子簇之间的协同效应远远大于线性分子簇,做为理论验证和比较,热力学模型分别采用含氢键缔合的格子流体状态方程(LFHB),以及含氢键协同效应的LFHB,关联醇一惰性体系的^1H核磁共振化学位移．考虑协同效应的关联结果优于原始的LFHB,比较量子化学计算的和热力学模型中采用的协同因子,认为甲醇和乙醇在溶液中更可能大部分以线性缔合形式存在。     

Fluorescence spectroscopic study of dip coated sol-gel thin film internal environment using fluorescent probes Hoechst33258 and Pyranine

The characterization of physicochemical properties of the internal environment of sol-gel thin films is required for understanding and designing applications in optical biosensors. We have investigated the dip coated tetraethyl-orthosilicate (TEOS) derived sol-gel thin films deposited on microscopic glass cover slips using molar ratio (water or ethanol / TEOS) R=32 using fluorescence spectroscopic measurements (emission, lifetime and anisotropy) on entrapped fluorescent probes. The effect of water and/or ethanol was studied as a function of storage (60 days) using fluorescent probes Hoechst 33258 (H258) and Pyranine (PY). Distribution of fluorescent probes in thin film was studied using confocal microscope. Emission maxima of H258 entrapped thin films from sol prepared using water as solvent showed emission maximum at 503 nm indicating the presence of water like environment which did not change during storage. On the contrary, PY entrapped thin films depicted emission bands at 434 nm and 513 nm, characteristics of ethanol and water respectively, up to the first few weeks and then the band at 434 nm prevailed (60 days), suggesting heterogeneous internal environment. Thin films from sol prepared using ethanol as solvent showed presence of ethanol through out storage. Fluorescence lifetime data of these probes in both sol-gel and thin films also suggested presence of heterogeneous internal environment. Thin films prepared from sol-gel using water as solvent suggested release of ethanol in the pores during hydrolysis and condensation reaction, which were clearly indicated by PY. The effect of sodium phosphate buffer was also studied in sol-gel and thin films. The results of these measurements showed that both the probes H258 and PY could be used effectively in monitoring the physicochemical properties of internal environment of thin films and sol-gel as a function of storage.     

Study of the effects of progressive changes in alkoxysilane structure on sol-gel reactivity

Effects of the structure of an alkoxysilane on the early reaction kinetics of sol-gel polymerization are investigated in basic and acidic conditions. Six silanes, including tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), tetramethoxysilane (TMOS), methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS), bis(trimethoxysilyl)ethane (BTMSE), bis(trimethoxysilyl)hexane (BTMSH), and bis(trimethoxysilylpropyl)amine (BTMSPA), are selected to examine the effects of progressive changes in the silane's structure. In basic conditions, reactivities of the silanes follow the pairwise trends TEOS < TMOS, TMOS > MTMS, MTMS < BTMSE, BTMSE > BTMSH, and BTMSH < BTMSPA. Hydrolysis rate coefficients of BTMSE, TMOS, MTMS, and BTMSPA are similar in value and are almost one order of magnitude larger than the coefficients of BTMSH and TEOS. In acidic conditions, the pairwise reactivity trends are TEOS approximately TMOS, TMOS < MTMS, MTMS > BTMSE, BTMSE > BTMSH, and BTMSH > BTMSPA. The condensation rate coefficients of BTMSH and BTMPA are much smaller than the others. Theses relationships can be explained mainly on the basis of the expected inductive and steric factors of the silanes. Bulky organics attached to the silane lead to low reactivity in both acidic and basic conditions. A high electron density at silicon leads to a low reactivity in basic conditions but a high reactivity in acidic conditions (pH approximately 2.3). Only BTMSPA in basic conditions defies these trends, possibly because of the effects of solvation near the reactive silicon site.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of the solution-air interface of aqueous sodium nitrate

Molecular dynamics simulations have been used to investigate the behavior of aqueous sodium nitrate in interfacial environments. Polarizable potentials for the water molecules and the nitrate ion in solution were employed. Calculated surface tension data at several concentrations are in good agreement with measured surface tension data. The surface potential of NaNO3 solutions at two concentrations also compare favorably with experimental measurements. Density profiles suggest that NO3- resides primarily below the surface of the solutions over a wide range of concentrations. When the nitrate anions approach the surface of the solution, they are significantly undercoordinated compared to in the bulk, and this may be important for reactions where solvent cage effects play a role such as photochemical processes. Surface water orientation is perturbed by the presence of nitrate ions, and this has implications for experimental studies that probe interfacial water orientation. Nitrate ions near the surface also have a preferred orientation that places the oxygen atoms in the plane of the interface.     

Structure and dynamics of methanol in water: a quantum mechanical charge field molecular dynamics study

An ab initio quantum mechanical charge field molecular dynamics simulation was carried out for one methanol molecule in water to analyze the structure and dynamics of hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups. It is found that water molecules around the methyl group form a cage-like structure whereas the hydroxyl group acts as both hydrogen bond donor and acceptor, thus forming several hydrogen bonds with water molecules. The dynamic analyses correlate well with the structural data, evaluated by means of radial distribution functions, angular distribution functions, and coordination number distributions. The overall ligand mean residence time, τ identifies the methanol molecule as structure maker. The relative dynamics data of hydrogen bonds between hydroxyl of methanol and water molecules prove the existence of both strong and weak hydrogen bonds. The results obtained from the simulation are in excellent agreement with the experimental results for dilute solution of CH(3)OH in water. The overall hydration shell of methanol consists in average of 18 water molecules out of which three are hydrogen bonded.     

Mechanical strengthening of TMOS-based alcogels by aging in silane solutions

It has been shown that aging of tetramethoxysilane (TMOS)-based alcogels in solutions of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)/methanol (MeOH) provides new monomers to the alcogel and favorably increases the strength and stiffness of the alcogel and hence reduces the shrinkage during the subsequent drying. Load relaxation experiments have been performed to determine the shear modulus (G), Poisson's ratio (), and the permeability of wet gel rods as a function of aging time in the TEOS/MeOH solution. The modulus of rupture (MOR) and G have also been obtained from 3-point bending tests. Aging the gels in 70 vol% TEOS/MeOH causes an increase in G from 0.48 MPa to 1.8 MPa and 7.4 MPa after aging for 24 hours and 144 hours, respectively.It is shown that the drying stress is actually increased by the aging treatment, but the increase in strength of the gel is even greater; hence, strengthening of the alcogels dramatically reduces the probability of cracking during drying. Unaged gels with higher TMOS concentrations corresponding to the silica content of gels aged in TEOS solution, however, showed large shrinkage and severe cracking.     

Thermodynamics of hydrogen bonding in hydrophilic and hydrophobic media

The thermodynamics of hydrogen bond breaking and formation was studied in solutions of alcohol (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol) molecules. An extensive series of over 400 molecular dynamics simulations with an aggregate length of over 900 ns was analyzed using an analysis technique in which hydrogen bond (HB) breaking is interpreted as an Eyring process, for which the Gibbs energy of activation DeltaG can be determined from the HB lifetime. By performing simulations at different temperatures, we were able to determine the enthalpy of activation DeltaH and the entropy of activation TDeltaS for this process from the Van't Hoff relation. The equilibrium thermodynamics was determined separately, based on the number of donor hydrogens that are involved in hydrogen bonds. Results (DeltaH) are compared to experimental data from Raman spectroscopy and found to be in good agreement for pure water and methanol. The DeltaG as well as the DeltaG are smooth functions of the composition of the mixtures. The main result of the calculations is that DeltaG is essentially independent of the environment (around 5 kJ/mol), suggesting that buried hydrogen bonds (e.g., in proteins) do not contribute significantly to protein stability. Enthalpically HB formation is a downhill process in all substances; however, for the alcohols there is an entropic barrier of 6-7 kJ/mol, at 298.15 K, which cannot be detected in pure water.     

溶胶-凝胶法制备C18固相微萃取头及其在有机氯农药残留检测中的应用

以十八烷基三乙氧基硅烷(C18-TEOS)、四乙氧基硅烷(TEOS)、乙醇、盐和水酸为原料,采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了十八烷基(C18)固相微萃取头,利用所制备萃取头实现了水样中11种有机氯农药的检测。在优化条件下,使用该萃取头对有机氯农药(OCPs)萃取后用气相色谱/电子捕获检测器(GC/ECD)测定,检出限为0.01～0.24μg/L,相对标准偏差为3.0%～13.3%。该方法用于鱼塘水、湖水及自来水中OCPs的检测,结果满意。所制备的萃取头在不同溶剂中浸泡后,对有机氯农药的萃取性能无明显变化。使用50次后,C18萃取头的萃取性能未变化。结果表明,所制备的C18固相微萃取头涂层均匀,具有多孔结构,稳定性高,有很好的实用价值。     

Structure of Hybrid Silica Gels Incorporated with Hydrophobic Dye Molecules

Hybrid gels incorporated with functional organic molecules are interesting for their physical properties and microstructures as well as their potential applications. Organic-inorganic hybrid silica gels incorporated with hydrophobic organic dye were prepared by hydrolysis of phenyltriethoxysilane (PhTES) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in ethanol solution containing organic dye, pyrene or rhodamine-B (RB). The structure of the gels were investigated by mean of IR absorption spectra and UV-visible absorption/fluorescence spectra. The xerogel prepared from the solution of [PhTES]/[PhTES + TEOS] < 0.3 was stable, and the incorporated dyes hardly dissolved into ethanol. Si-Ph bond increased with increasing PhTES content in the precursor solutions. The UV-visible absorption spectra of the gels incorporated with RB show increase in the amount of dimer with increasing Ph-content. The fluorescence spectra for the gels incorporated with pyrene show that the hydrophobic dye is preferentially incorporated as monomers when the amount of Ph-group in the gels increases in contrast with hydrophilic RB. It is also suggested that the hydrophobic dye is preferentially incorporated into gels as monomers when the gelation rate is low.     

Heat of Reaction of the Hydrolysis-Polymerization Process of Tetraethyl Orthosilicate in Acidic Condition

Heat of reaction of the hydrolysis-polymerization process of tetraethyl orthosilicate with water in acidic condition was investigated to clarify the thermodynamic driving force of sol-gel reactions. Heat of reaction was measured using an isoperibol calorimeter by mixing a dilute tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) ethanolic solution with another solution of water, ethanol, and hydrochloric acid. The temperature change of the reaction cell had been measured more than 24 hours after mixing under the quasi-isothermal condition. Large exothermic reaction (12.9 kJ·mol^–1 for 1 mole of TEOS) due to the hydrolysis of TEOS was observed. A slow exothermic reaction followed it, and after that, the sol-gel reaction was changed to a small endothermic one.     

Structure and Electron Spin Resonance of Annealed Sol-Gel Glasses Containing Ag

In this work, SiO₂ samples with silver, prepared using the sol-gel method, were analyzed after being thermally treated in air in the range of 100 to 800°C. The sol-gel starting solutions were prepared by mixing tetra-ethyl-orthosilicate (TEOS), water and ethanol. Samples with 4 different H₂O/TEOS molar ratios (3.3, 5, 7.5 and 11.7 respectively) and with different nominal Ag concentrations were prepared (1, 2 and 4%vol. of Ag). It was found that upon annealing, different silver spices were formed, such as Ag₂ ⁺, Ag⁺, Ag°, and metallic silver aggregates. The identification of these spices was carried out by means of X-ray diffraction, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), optical emission and optical absorption. It was also found that the specific type of silver spices observed depends on the structure of the SiO₂ matrix and on the annealing temperatures. It was found that samples prepared from precursor solutions with a low H₂O/TEOS ratio have a more open structure, and therefore silver diffuses faster and forms agglomerates at lower temperatures. Samples prepared from solutions with larger H₂O/TEOS ratios have a more dense structure, which allows the formation of atomic or molecular spices in addition to silver particles. A systematic study of this system was carried out using EPR on samples prepared from solutions having different H₂O/TEOS molar ratios, various Ag concentrations and subjected to different thermal treatments.     

Solid-State NMR Study of Phase Separation and Order of Water Molecules and Silanol Groups in Polysiloxane Networks

Homogeneity and structure of organically modified polysiloxane networks prepared by sol-gel co-condensation, as well as location and nature of water molecules and silanol groups were studied by 1D and 2D solid-state NMR. ¹H–²⁹Si and ¹H–¹H interatomic distances were estimated from variable contact-time CP/MAS experiments, ¹H NMR chemical shifts and off-resonance WISE NMR. A structure model of these networks is proposed and discussed. The fraction of proton-inaccessible units Q⁴ in the networks decreases with increasing amounts of dimethylsiloxane (D) and methylsiloxane (T) units. In contrast to systems prepared by co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with dimethyl(diethoxy)silane (DMDEOS), proton-inaccessible units form essential fraction in networks prepared by co-condensation of TEOS with methyl(triethoxy)silane (MTEOS). The proton-accessible part of the networks with high O/Si ratios is nano-heterogeneous phase, which is composed of water containing Q ⁱ particles separated by copolymer domains. The overall homogeneity and uniformity of binding sites around silanol groups increases by co-condensation TEOS with DMDEOS or MTEOS, while the amount of physisorbed water as well as the hydrogen bond strength decreases, as compared with neat silica gel prepared by polycondensation of TEOS.     

Be2+在水、甲醇和乙醇中结构性质的从头算分子动力学模拟

采用Car-Parrinello分子动力学(CPMD)方法分别研究了Be²⁺在水、甲醇和乙醇中的溶剂结构性质, 并对Be²⁺的第一溶剂壳结构的实验及理论结果进行了比较. 所得第一溶剂壳结构与已报道的实验和理论结果较为一致. 对径向分布函数、配位数以及角度分布等进行了详细的分析. 结果表明: 在水、甲醇和乙醇中, Be²⁺第一溶剂壳为稳定理想的四面体结构. 在本文的模拟时间尺度内,没有观察到第一溶剂壳中的分子与第二溶剂壳中的分子进行交换, 进一步证明Be²⁺第一溶剂壳为稳定的四配位结构. 根据计算得到的空间分布函数, Be²⁺在溶剂分子的等高面上主要集中分布在溶剂分子接受氢键的方向. 根据氧原子在Be²⁺周围的分布, 壳层分子主要集中分布在Be²⁺周围的四个区域, 进一步证实溶剂壳为四面体对称.