Sol-Gel Prepared Glass for Refractive and Diffractive Micro-Optical Elements and Arrays

The fast sol-gel method enables facile preparation of siloxane-based glassy matrices, in which polymerization is completed within minutes and volume changes <5% take place upon curing. Single-face and two-face replication of micro-optical arrays have been obtained, as well as crack-free elements >10 mm thick. Minimizing shrinkage and enabling relaxation of the drying sol-gel are key factors in the elimination of cracking. These features and the resulting optical quality of the glass make this method technologically and economically attractive for replication-produced micro-lenses and micro-optical arrays.     

Fabrication of Sol-Gel Optical Waveguide by Hot-Dip Coating Process

The TiO₂: Sb nanoscale thin films were deposited on glass substrates by the sol–gel dip-coating method. The influence of the dopant density on the structure and the phase transformation of the thin films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectra. From the results of XRD, the thin films were in a majority of anatase state. The results of Raman spectra indicated that the non-doped TiO₂ thin film composed of not only anatase but also brookite phase. Dopant Sb enhances the transformation of the TiO₂ from brookite to anatase phase. After doping proper amount of Sb, the thin films show more superhydrophilicity than the non-doped TiO₂ thin film as well. The crystal size of the TiO₂ : Sb is about 13.3–20 nm calculated from the XRD patterns.     

Novel Protonic Conductive Silicates Produced by the Sol-Gel Method

ABSTRACT

Materials which display ionic conductivity were produced by the sol-gel and microemulsion-gel methods. The charging and discharging characteristics were investigated and it was found that a single ionic species was responsible for the conduction, the ionic species being residual protons from the initial component mixture. The complex impedence of various samples was measured and the ionic conductivities ranged in value from 9 × 10^?8 to 1 × 10^?5 ohm^?1 cm^?1. An Arrhemius plot for a microemulsion-gel revealed that the energy of activation was 0.15 eV.     

Hydrolysis of 1,2-diacetoxypropane by Immobilized Lipase on Cellulose Acetate-TiO2 Gel Fiber Derived from the Sol-Gel Method

Lipase from Rhizomucor miehei was entrap-immobilized on cellulose acetate-TiO₂ gel fiber by the sol-gel method. This fiber-immobilized lipase was stable in a phosphate buffer solution and easy to handle. The enantioselective hydrolysis of 1,2-diacetoxypropane catalyzed by this immobilized lipase could be performed in buffer solution unlike the lipase immobilized on an alginate matrices. The enantioselectivity was improved in presence of this fiber-immobilized lipase compared with the hydrolysis catalyzed by the native lipase. This finding indicates that the active site structure of lipase immobilized on fiber was retained to some extent, though the enzyme conformation may become flexible in presence of water. We also compared the properties of this fiber-immobilized lipase with native lipase and commercially available immobilized lipase from Rhizomucor miehei, viz., Lipozyme.     

Synthesis of Silicon Carbide Fibers by Sol-Gel Processing

Silica-phenolic resin hybrid fibers with carbon-to-silicon atomic ratios of 2.6 to 5.4 have been prepared from ethanol solutions of tetraethoxysilane, phenolic resins, water, and hydrochloric acid with a tetraethoxysilane-H₂O−HCl molar ratio of 1:2:0.01 by sol-gel processing. The hybrid fibers have been heated at 1500°C in Ar for carbothermal reduction to convert them into silicon carbide fibers. The effects of the holding time at 1500°C and the carbon-to-silicon atomic ratio of the hybrid fibers on the free carbon content in the silicon carbide fibers have been investigated. It has been found that the conversion is complete by the heat-treatment for more than 2 h. The silicon carbide fibers with a free carbon content of ca. 2 wt% have been obtained from the hybrid fibers with the ratios of 2.6 to 4.3.     

Refractive Microlens Fabrication by Ink-Jet Process

Microlenses made of hybrid organic-inorganic materials have been fabricated on glass substrates using a commercial drop-on-demand ink-jet printing system with a 50 m diameter nozzle driven by a piezoelectric device. After deposition the drops have been polymerized by UV light irradiation. Viscosity, solvent evaporation, drop-substrate wetting condition and drop and substrate temperatures are the main parameters which govern the production of reproducible lens shapes. The shape and surface roughness of the lenses have been characterized by atomic force microscopy and profilometry. Their optical properties have been determined by light microscopy and spectrophotometric techniques. The printing technique can produce plano-convex spherical microlenses with diameters varying from 50 to 300 m, focal lengths from 70 m to 3 mm and f-numbers as low as 0.6.     

Porous Siloxane-Silica Hybrid Materials by Sol-Gel Processing

Porous hybrid materials have been fabricated by sol-gel processing of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-tetrakis(ethyltriethoxysilane)-cyclotetrasiloxane (1) in the presence of the cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The chemical and physical properties of these materials have been analysed by FT-IR spectroscopy, solid state ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption-desorption studies. FT-IR spectroscopy established that the CTAB surfactant can be extracted from a crushed gel using ethanol as a solvent. Solid state ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy showed the presence of D, T and Q species as expected from the structure of the precursors. Broad bands observed for the D units at –18 ppm and the T units at –63 ppm suggested that the cyclotetrasiloxane was held in a rigid environment and bound to the Q species of the silica matrix derived from the TEOS. NMR spectroscopy confirmed that solvent extraction resulted in further condensation of the silica matrix. Powder X-ray diffraction indicated that the materials possess short-range order and small domain sizes, as shown by broad diffraction peaks. The condensation induced by solvent extraction led to a decrease in the lattice and domain size of the samples, generally resulting in a less ordered material. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms were typical of microporous materials with pore diameters of 18 Å and a narrow size distribution.     

Catalysis in Organic Solvents with Lipase Immobilized by Sol-Gel Technique

A series of immobilized lipases were obtained by sol-gel process, using silica prepolymers prepared from tetramethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, propyltrimethoxysilane and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane. The activities of these biocatalysts were compared with the lipase adsorbed on poly(methylhydroxysiloxane) and encapsulated into a silicone rubber, lipase entrapped in nanoporous silica matrix and commercial sol-gel lipase. Model reactions were the esterification of stearic acid and Corey lactone bisalcohol (an intermediate of prostaglandin synthesis). The positive effect of hydrophobic-hydrophilic interface, created by the addition of organosilanes, on the activity of biocatalysts was partially reduced by decreasing specific surface of mesopores. Hydrophobic solvents increased the activity of the lipase entrapped in tetramethoxysilane–methyltrimethoxysilane prepolymer in the sequence acetone < toluene < benzene < decane < hexane. The activity of silicone rubber-encapsulated biocatalysts was proportional to polymer swelling in organic solvents (hexane > toluene > acetone).     

Application of the Sol-Gel Method at the Fabrication of Microstructure Fibers

This paper presents results on using the sol-gel process for the preparation of microstructure fibers (MSFs). In this preparation the sol-gel method is used for the formation of bonds between silica tubes and silica rods in the input stacks for MSF drawing and for filling-in the interstices between these parts. Gels applied on the stacks were prepared from sols composed of tetraethoxysilane, phosphorous oxychloride, boron tribromide, ethanol, HCl and water. Pastes prepared from the sols and solid fabricated through heat treatment of the sols at 1000°C were also used. The sols were applied on the stacks by the dip-coating method and the pastes were applied manually. The formed xerogels were heat-treated at temperatures of up to 1000°C. The MSFs of the grapefruit type were drawn from the stacks at a temperature of about 1900°C. Waveguiding properties of the fibers were examined under their excitation by an inclined collimated beam. It has been found that the sol-gel method is suitable particularly for filling-in the interstices at the end of the stack, which enables pressure control inside holes of the stack during MSF drawing.     

Enhancement of the Photochromic Performance of Spirooxazine in Sol-Gel Derived Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Matrices by Additives

Organic-inorganic hybrid materials synthesized via sol-gel processing are excellent solid matrices for photochromic dyes like spirooxazine, and the photochromic performance can be further enhanced by introducing suitable additives. This work describes the effects of additives on the photochromic intensity (ΔA ₀), decolouration rate (k) and photostability of spirooxazine in sol-gel derived organic-inorganic hybrid matrices. They include fluoroalkylsilane (FAS), bisphenolA (BPA) and methyl-imidazole (MI). FAS enhances both ΔA ₀ and photostability, but has little effect onk. The higher the content of BPA, the higher the ΔA ₀ and the higher the photostability, but the lower thek. The effect of MI on ΔA ₀ andk is not so considerable as that of BPA and is a little complicated, while significant improvement in photostability is achieved by the addition of MI at an optimum concentration with the presence of BPA at a higher content.     

烷氧基硅烷溶胶-凝胶反应机理

利用烷氧基硅烷作为前驱体之一,进行溶胶-凝胶(sol-gel)反应制备无机氧化物和有机－无机杂化材料,近几十年来一直是一个研究热点。对烷氧基硅烷的sol-gel反应过程,特别是起始的水解和初步缩合过程已有较多的研究。本文综述了烷氧基硅烷的sol-gel反应机理研究的进展,并对未来发展提出了看法。     

Preparation and Characterization of MgO Thin Films by a Novel Sol-Gel Method

MgO thin films have been prepared on Si substrates by a novel and simple sol-gel method using magnesium nitrate and collodion as starting material. Solutions consisting of magnesium nitrate in a mixture of collodion and ethanol were spin-coated onto silicon substrates. It was found that collodion was a necessary component to form stable sols and the crystallization and structures were clearly dependent on the amount of the collodion and the annealing temperature. The MgO thin films with good crystallization were obtained after annealing at 800°C. Meanwhile, the microstructure of the MgO films was examined by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.     

溶胶-凝胶法合成锂离子电池正极材料LiV3O8

锂钒氧化物;扩散系数;溶胶-凝胶法合成锂离子电池正极材料LiV3O8     

Structural Analysis and Properties of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Ionic Conductor Prepared by Sol-Gel Process

Organic-inorganic hybrid lithium ion conductors were prepared by the sol-gel process. The hybrid ion conductor will be used as the electrolyte for Li based high-energy density batteries. The hybrid ion conductor was prepared from a mixture of tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS), polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG₂₀₀), lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄) and water. A wet gel was prepared at room temperature. The gels dried at 80°C under vacuum did not contain water. The dried hybrid ion conductor gel had homogeneity and high transparency. Ionic conductivity of the hybrid sample was measured by the complex impedance method and it increased with increasing PEG₂₀₀ content. The dried hybrid gel that contained no LiClO₄ did not show ion conduction. Conductivity on the order of 10^–5 S·cm^–1 at room temperature was obtained. Structural characterization was done by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra (FTIR) and NMR measurement of ¹³C and ¹H, and the thermal stability and glass transition properties were studied by DSC. Glass transition temperature decreased with increasing PEG₂₀₀ content and increased with increasing [Li]/[O] ratio (the oxygen considered is from the polyethylene glycol). Existence of the Si–O–(C₂H₄O) _n –bond and the C–OH bond in the framework of the organic and inorganic phases was confirmed. TMOS and PEG₂₀₀ were hydrolyzed and condensed. The organic and inorganic phases were chemically bonded and the microstructure of the hybrid matrix was shaped as comb. The comb shape leads to high ionic conduction.     

溶胶-凝胶法制备稀土铽配合物掺杂的发光薄膜

采用溶胶－凝胶法原位制备了稀土配合物掺杂的发光薄膜，薄膜透明均一。结果表明用原位合成法，可以将难溶性稀土羧酸类配合物有效地掺杂到溶胶基质中，荧光光谱分析表明，所得到的薄膜材料在紫外激发下发射出铽离子的特征发射线。     

超声溶胶-凝胶法制备强酸性介孔材料

 在不使用有机模板剂和孔调节剂的情况下,以无机盐为原料制备了锆和钛修饰的硅铝介孔材料及担载铂的电子-酸性双功能介孔材料. 激光粒度仪和N2吸附-脱附等温线表征的结果显示,制备方法对溶胶的粒度分布和材料的结构性质有较大的影响. 吡啶吸附-脱附的红外光谱表明所得材料具有强的表面酸性,利用XPS和H2-TPR等表征手段确定了材料强表面酸性的来源. 1-己烯加氢异构反应表明所合成的材料具有良好的催化活性.     

Preparation of PZT Thick Films by an Interfacial Polymerization Method

Pb(Zr_0.53Ti_0.47)O₃ (PZT) films of 10 to 50 m in thickness were prepared by a new sol-gel process using an interfacial polymerization technique. The interfacial polymerization process is that an alkoxide precursor solution is poured on the surface of water in a container to form a gel film at the interface between the two immiscible liquids. The precursor solution was prepared by adding PZT alkoxide solution, PZT powders coated with Pb₅Ge₃O₁₁ (PG), and a surfactant into hexane solvent. After the polymerization at the interface, the gel films were gently placed on a silicon substrate by draining the water in the container. The gel films containing PZT powders were sintered at 950°C for 10 min to obtain crystallized PZT films. The remanent polarization of a PZT thick film was 33.1 C/cm². The piezoelectric d ₃₃ constant measured with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer was 225 pm/V and was independent of frequency from 0.2 to 3 kHz.     

Synthesis of Highly Porous Organic/Inorganic Hybrids by Ambient Pressure Sol-Gel Processing

This paper reports the synthesis of highly porous organic/inorganic hybrids by a two-step acid-base catalyzed sol-gel process and ambient pressure drying. In the method organic and inorganic precursors are copolymerized so as to incorporate organic ligands into the solid network. The two-step acid-base catalyzed process was used to prevent phase segregation during the hydrolysis and co-condensation of organic and inorganic precursors. The organic ligands incorporated into the solid gel network modify the surface chemistry. Thus, the wetting angle is significantly increased so that the collapse of the gel network is greatly reduced upon the removal of pore fluid during drying. Organic/inorganic hybrids with BET surface areas above 1250 m2/g, porosities above 75% and pore sizes of 8 nm have been synthesized.     

Optical and Electrical Properties of Ferroelectric SBN Thin Films Prepared by Sol-Gel Process

Strontium barium niobate thin films were prepared by sol-gel method on various substrates using an improved process, two-step heating process. The two-step heating process applies an additive heat-treatment before crystallization for enhancement of the densification and the nucleation of films. Also, highly c-axis oriented SBN thin films with various compositions were obtained on MgO(100) and Pt(100)/MgO(100) substrates. Their optical and electrical properties such as optical propagation loss, refractive index, P-E hysteresis, and dielectric constant, were characterized as a function of the film composition.     

Sol-Gel Processing of Organic-Inorganic Nanocomposite Protective Coatings

Organic-inorganic nanocomposite protective coatings are prepared on aluminum substrates by the spinning technique with the concept of incorporating homogeneously nanosized particles (of AlOOH, Al2O3, ZrO2, SiC) into molecular organic-inorganic hybrid matrices. The hybrid matrices are prepared from epoxysilane and bisphenol A with imidazol as catalyst. The AlOOH particles are derived from aluminum isoprooxide and introduced into the hybrid sols directly, and Al2O3, ZrO2, SiC particles are first surface-modified with Si–OH from hydrolyzed TEOS. The coatings are dense, smooth and flexible and inhibit corrosion.