Preparation and properties of polybenzoxazole-silica nanocomposites via sol-gel process

A novel organic/inorganic hybrid material has been prepared through the sol-gel process. A high temperature polymer, polybenzoxazole (PBO), was chosen as the organic phase due to its inherent low dielectric constant and low water absorption. The inorganic phase was generated via sol-gel reaction from a silica precursor, phenyltriethoxysilane (PTEOS). Due to the hydroxyl groups in the PBO precursor backbone and the water release during the cyclization of the precursor, the sol-gel reaction proceeded without the addition of water and any catalyst. After curing at 350 °C, we obtained the PBO/silica nanocomposites. From TEM and SEM photographs, the silica particles dispersed in the PBO matrix were nano-sized. With an addition of 100 wt% of PTEOS, the T_g of PBO was increased 35 °C. The dielectric constant of the hybrid materials increased with the increasing amount of PTEOS.     

Preparation and antibacterial activity of hybrid materials containing quaternary ammonium salts via sol-gel process

Organic-inorganic hybrid coatings containing quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) bonded to the organic-inorganic network were prepared from tetraethoxysilane and triethoxysilane terminated poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene) using a sol-gel process. They were applied as a thin layer (0.6-1 μm) to PE films and the antibacterial activity of the coated films was tested against both Gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538) bacteria. Measurements at different contact times showed a rapid decrease of the viable count for both the tested strains. In particular, after 48 h of contact, a decrease of 96.4% and 99.1% of E. coli and S. aureus, respectively, was observed. The permanence of the antibacterial activity of the coated films was demonstrated through repeated washings and prolonged immersion in physiological saline solutions at 37 °C. Indeed, due to the removal of QAS moieties by the nucleophilic attack of water, the antibacterial activity after 24 h was strongly reduced when measured on samples submitted to several washings. However, a quite good antibacterial activity was observed even on the same samples after 96 h, probably due to a spontaneous partial restoring of the QAS on the surface. Very good transparency, quite good adhesion and high wettability are further features of these hybrid coatings.     

Photoinduced effects in hybrid sol-gel materials

Hybrid silica-based sol-gel films containing Disperse Red 1 (DR1), carbazole units (CBZ) and 2,4,7-trinitro-9-fluorenone (TNF) at different concentrations show reversible photoinduced birefringence. Polarization sensitive holographic gratings have been produced and characterized. Dichroism measurements give information on the orientation mechanisms and on the aggregation of the dye molecules. The alignment of the DR1 molecules by corona poling is verified by second harmonic generation (SHG) and a moving grating technique is used to investigate an asymmetric energy exchange in a two-beam coupling experiment, typical of photorefractive gratings.     

Preparation and microstructure of sol-gel derived silver-doped silica

Silver-doped silica was prepared by hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS, Si(OC₂H₅)₄) in the presence of a silver nitrate (AgNO₃) solution by two different synthesis methods. In the first synthesis route, sol-gel mixtures were prepared using an acid catalyst. In the second synthesis route, silver-doped silica gels were formed by two-step acid/base catalysis. For the same concentration of silver dopant [AgNO₃]/[TEOS] = 0.015 acid-catalyzed sol-gel formed a microporous silica with an average pore size of <25 Å whereas the two-step catalyzed silica had an average pore size of 250 Å and exhibited a mesoporous structure when fully dried. The differences in the pore size affected the silver particle formation mechanism and post-calcination silver particle size. After calcination at 800 °C for 2 h the acid-catalyzed silica contained metallic silver particles size with an average particle size of 24 ± 2 nm whereas two-step catalyzed silica with the same concentration of [AgNO₃]/[TEOS] = 0.015 contained silver nanoparticles with an average size of approximately 32 ± 2 nm. Mechanisms for silver particle formation and for silica matrix crystallization with respect to the processing route and calcination temperature are discussed.     

Control of the nanocrystalline zirconia structure through a colloidal sol-gel process

A simple method to synthesize tetragonal zirconia stabilized at ambient temperature is developed and allows the monitoring of the tetragonal-monoclinic transition via a colloidal sol-gel process. By increasing the pH of an aqueous solution consisted of a zirconium precursor and a complexing agent (acetylacetone), a colloidal sol and then a gel can be formed under slightly acidic condition. After a drying step, tetragonal zirconia is easily obtained with an adequate thermal treatment at low temperature. The tetragonal-monoclinic transition occurs when the calcination temperature is increased. The relationship between the crystallite size, the crystallographic structure and the thermal treatment has been investigated by X-Ray Diffraction and the behaviour of the system from the gel state to the final powder has been studied by using Small Angle X-Ray Scattering and thermal analysis techniques. We demonstrate that compared to a chemical precipitation route, this colloidal sol-gel process allows the nanostructure of the material to be controlled due to the formation of primary nanoparticles. The presence of these nanoparticles makes possible the specific determination of the zirconia crystallographic phase through an accurate control of the nanostructure during the thermal treatment.     

Effect of silica-type sol-gel carrier’s structure and morphology on a supported Ziegler-Natta catalyst for ethylene polymerization

Silica xerogels with different structures and morphology, synthesized using a sol-gel procedure, were used as a carrier of vanadium catalysts (VOCl₃/AlEt₂Cl) for ethylene polymerization. Two techniques of catalyst synthesis were applied: slurry impregnation and gas-phase adsorption and the relevant polymerization methods were then employed. The effect of the carrier structure and morphology on the vanadium loading in the catalysts, the catalyst’s activity and kinetic stability were investigated.     

Hydroxyapatite gels and nanocrystals prepared through a sol-gel process

We have investigated the effect of the Ca/P molar ratio on the structural and morphological properties of hydroxyapatite (HA) gels and nanocrystals. The sol-gel process was carried out in aqueous, and alternatively in alcoholic medium (50% water-50% ethanol), at 37°C. Gel samples were obtained by drying the sols at 37°C or at 80°C, whereas powder samples were obtained by filtering the sols. Heat treatment at temperatures as low as 300°C is enough to obtain pure HA from the gels with a Ca/P molar ratio of 1.00 and 1.67. At variance, heat treatment of the gels with a Ca/P of 2.55 always produces secondary phases. The degree of crystallinity of HA increases with the Ca/P molar ratio of the sols, and it is slightly affected by the presence of ethanol in the precipitation medium. Filtering of the sols provides powders constituted of nanocrystalline HA that exhibit degree of crystallinity, crystal morphology and thermal stability closely related to the sols composition.     

Optical and dielectric characteristics of photochromic hybrid sol-gel materials

Photochromic silica based organic-inorganic hybrid materials containing covalently linked cyanoazobenzene chromophores were investigated by optical and dielectric spectroscopy. These materials, obtained via sol-gel process, were deposited onto glass substrates by spin coating technique to achieve thin transparent films. To investigate photoinduced alignment, the UV-Vis absorption spectra of the sol-gel films were recorded under illumination with linearly polarized blue light. Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy revealed a variety of relaxation processes: the α-process related to the dynamic glass transition temperature located around 150°C, and an Arrhenius-type β-relaxation (activation energy 58–60 kJ/mol) that was assigned to orientational fluctuations involving the azobenzene group. The correspondence between dielectric and photochemical behavior was discussed.     

Preparation and spectroscopic studies of sol-gel derived GeO2/organically modified silane hybrid materials for optical waveguides

GeO₂/organically modified silane organic-inorganic hybrid materials derived by a sol-gel technique were studied for optical waveguide applications. Acid-catalyzed solutions, firstly, γ-glycidoxypropyltrimetho-xysilane mixed with germanium isopropoxide, and secondly, methyltrimethoxysilane mixed with germanium isopropoxide were used as precursors. Optical and structural properties of the waveguide thin films prepared from the two types of sols were characterized by using the prism coupling technique, atomic force microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, UV-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared. The obtained results indicate that in both cases, crack-free and highly transparent waveguide thin films with a thickness of more than 2-μm could be obtained by a single spin-coating process and at a low-temperature heat treatment of 100°C. A strong UV absorption region at short wavelength ∼200 nm, accompanied with a shoulder peaked at ∼240 nm, was also identified. It has been experimentally demonstrated that a channel waveguide structure could easily be fabricated from the hybrid sol-gel thin films by using reactive ion etching.     

Dispersion of silica nano-particles in sol-gel hybrid resins for fabrication of multi-scale hybrid nanocomposite

Multi-scale hybrid nanocomposites containing both ∼15 nm silica colloids and ∼2 nm oligosiloxanes in a methacryl polymer matrix were newly designed and fabricated. Colloidal silica sols were dispersed in methacryl oligosiloxanes nano-hybrid resins synthesized by sol-gel reaction of methacryloxypropylmethoxysilane and diphenylsilanediol. On the basis of TEM and SANS analyses, it was confirmed that the silica colloids were compatibly dispersed and different sizes of colloidal silica and oligosiloxanes co-exist in the solutions. Multi-scale hybrid nanocomposites fabricated by UV and thermal curing with incorporation of silica colloids in the nano-hybrid materials show enhanced mechanical and thermal characteristics.     

Silica supported sulfated zirconia prepared by a sol-gel process: Effect of solvent evacuation procedure on the structural, textural and catalytic properties

Sol-gel process was used to prepare silica supported sulfated zirconia catalysts. The main parameter studied in this work was the gel drying method through four different ways of solvent evacuation. Textural, structural as well as the acidic properties of the four samples were studied using N₂ physisorption, X-ray diffraction, mass spectrometry, sulfur chemical analysis and adsorption-desorption of pyridine. The isomerization of n-hexane was used as a catalytic test. The surface areas and the pore distributions are highly affected by the drying mode. One of the four drying methods leads to a solid having improved textural properties and presenting both the crystalline ZrO₂ tetragonal phase and a particular type of sulfate mode bond. It seems that these three conditions are necessary for achieving high catalytic activity.     

Boehmite sol properties and preparation of two-layer alumina membrane by a sol-gel process

A two layer ultrafiltration alumina membrane was prepared by a sol-gel process using boehmite sol as precursor. The sol was prepared by hydrolysation of aluminium tri-sec-butoxide. Sol properties, such as viscosity as a function of concentration and acidity, were investigated by using capillary viscometry, transmission electron microscopy and laser scattering photometry etc. The viscosity increased with an increase in concentration and a decrease in pH, while the particle shape and size of the sol were mainly determined by pH. The membrane prepared by a dipping procedure was characterized by both scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the membrane thickness and surface morphology were affected by the dipping time, the viscosity and the temperature.     

Preparation and optical characterization of catalyst free SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> sonogel hybrid materials

The synthesis of sol-gel materials induced by ultrasonic irradiation (sonolysis) is implemented as an alternative method for the fabrication of highly pure organic-inorganic composites with good monolithic, mechanical and optical properties. Ultrasonic irradiation, instead of commonly used basic- or acidic-catalyst was used to produce acoustical cavitation within the liquid H₂O/tetraethyl-ortosilicate (TEOS) reactants. This procedure forms a hydrolyzed-TEOS colloidal dispersion (sol) which produces, after drying, a highly pure SiO₂ network. The resulting SiO₂ glass exhibits high porosity and allows the inclusion of several organic compounds in the colloidal sol-state. Novel, optical active synthesized liquid crystalline (LC)-azo-compounds, bent shaped mesogens, cis- and trans-poly(1-ethynylpyrene)s, as well as fullerene (C₆₀) spheres and classical organic dyes were successfully incorporated as dopant agents within the novel catalyst free (CF) SiO₂-sonogel host matrix. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy studies were carried out in order to characterize the optical performance of both the CF-sonogel and several hybrid composites The pulsed laser photoacoustic technique (LPAT) was implemented to determine thermodynamic phase transitions of LC-based hybrids and laser induced damage (photo-degradation) in dye-based composites. Finally, comparative morphology studies between undoped reference samples and some doped composites were performed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), where an optimal TEOS/dopant concentration ratio, to obtain good mechanical properties among the studied samples, has been found.     

Effect of the silica content on the physico-chemical and relaxation properties of hybrid polymer/silica nanocomposites of P(EMA-co-HEA)

Poly(ethyl methacrylate-co-hydroxyethyl acrylate) 70/30 %wt/silica, P(EMA-co-HEA)/SiO₂, nanocomposites, with silica contents ranging from 0 to 30 %wt, were synthesized and studied as promising candidate materials for the synthetic matrix of scaffolds for bone substitutes or dentin regeneration. The physico-chemical properties of the hybrids were studied by calorimetry and by contact angle measurements on the surfaces. The dynamic-mechanical and compression properties were analysed. Intermediate silica contents in the range from 10 to 20 %wt of silica rendered co-continuous interpenetrated structures, in which silica produced a reinforcing effect in the polymeric matrix and at the same time conferred bioactivity to the surfaces by improving surface wettability, making these hybrids appropriate for the proposed application. On the contrary, silica percentages below 10 %wt formed disconnected inorganic aggregates at the nanoscale dispersed in the copolymer matrix, which did not modify significantly the copolymer properties. Silica contents above 20 %wt formed denser inorganic networks with few terminal silanol groups available at the surfaces, much more rigid and hardly manageable samples.     

Study of CsCl incorporation in silica via sol-gel synthesis catalyzed by biogenic compounds

Incorporation of CsCl in silica via sol-gel route catalyzed by biogenic compounds with three different concentrations of CsCl has been carried out by using organic compounds extracted from Nitzschia spp., a freshwater diatom alga. The visual integrity, nitrogen adsorption and electron microscopies were used to characterize the silica gels obtained from the biocatalysts employing sol-gel process with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) as precursor. The usual sequence for the sol-gel process was used: sol preparation, gelation, aging, drying and heat treatment. Differential thermal analysis (DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the incorporation of CsCl in the biomimetic silica. Chemical analysis of the biocatalysts was used to explain the exothermic behavior of the samples during DTA and DSC. The incorporation of CsCl in the silica matrix with a process using biogenic catalysts proved to be more effective compared to another process using inorganic catalysts.     

Multi-step sol-gel process and its effect on the morphology of polyethylene oxide (PEO)/SiO2 anion-exchange hybrid materials

Polyethylene oxide (PEO)/SiO₂ anion-exchange hybrid materials were prepared through the sol-gel process of alkoxysilane functionalized PEO-1000 (PEO-[Si(OCH₃)₃]₂) and N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl] ethylene diamine (A-1120). The influence of the multi-step sol-gel processing procedure, i.e. the pre-hydrolysis of either of the two precursors on the homogeneity of the hybrid materials was investigated. Results showed that the sol-gel reaction of A-1120 and PEO-[Si(OCH₃)₃]₂ from the same time would result in hybrid materials with the highest homogeneity, and pre-hydrolysis of A-1120 or PEO-[Si(OCH₃)₃]₂ could only decrease the materials’ compatibility.     

Evolution of rheological properties and local structure during gelation of siloxane-polymethylmethacrylate hybrid materials

Hybrid siloxane-polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) nanocomposites with covalent bonds between the inorganic (siloxane) and organic (polymer) phases were prepared by the sol gel process through hydrolysis and polycondensation of 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylmethacrylate (TMSM) and polymerization of methylmethacrylate (MMA) using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as initiator. The effect of MMA, BPO and water contents on the viscoelastic behaviour of these materials was analysed during gelation by dynamic rheological measurements. The changes in storage (G′) and loss moduli (G′′), complex viscosity (η^*) and phase angle (δ) were measured as a function of the reaction time showing the viscous character of the sol in the initial step of gelation and its progressive transformation to an elastic gel. This study was complemented by ²⁹Si and ¹³C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR/MAS) measurements of dried gel. The analysis of the experimental results shows that linear chains are formed in the initial step of the gelation followed by a growth of branched structures and formation of a three-dimensional network. Near the gel point this hybrid material demonstrates the typical scaling behaviour expected from percolation theory.     

Effect of sol-gel derived nano-silica and organic peroxide on the thermal and mechanical properties of low-density polyethylene/wood flour composites

The influence of nano-silica, synthesized and mixed with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) through a sol-gel process, on the thermal and mechanical properties of LDPE and LDPE/wood flour (WF) composites, prepared in the absence and presence of dicumyl peroxide, was investigated. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analyses show a uniform dispersion of silica nano-particles of size 10-50 nm in the matrix, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic results indicated interaction between the nano-silica and the LDPE matrix, which seems to improve for samples prepared in the presence of dicumyl peroxide (DCP). WF and nano-silica, as well as the presence of DCP during sample preparation, substantially improve the thermal stability of the LDPE matrix. The tensile strength of the samples decreased with increasing wood flour content, while the tensile modulus substantially increased. The presence of nano-silica gave rise to lower values for both tensile strength and tensile modulus, while higher tensile strength (and an increase in tensile strength with WF content) is observed for samples prepared in the presence of DCP. The tensile modulus increases with increasing WF content, but is not substantially influenced by the presence of nano-silica or by sample preparation in the presence of DCP. The DMA results were in line with the tensile results.     

Thermoplastic and thermosetting properties of polyphenylsilsesquioxane particles prepared by two-step acid-base catalyzed sol-gel process

Polyphenylsilsesquioxane (PhSiO_3/2) particles were synthesized by a two-step acid-base catalyzed sol-gel process, in which phenyltriethoxysilane used as a starting alkoxide was hydrolyzed and condensed in the first step under two different acid-catalyzed conditions. The PhSiO_3/2 particles prepared under an acid-catalyzed process without using a solvent were thermally hardened after the first heating up to 200°C. In contrast, the PhSiO_3/2 particles prepared under an acid-catalyzed process with ethanol as a solvent were thermally softened with the repeated heating processes up to 200°C. From the gel permeation chromatography measurements, it was found that the average molecular weight of the particles prepared with the use of ethanol was decreased in comparison with that of the particles prepared without using ethanol. The addition of ethanol in the sols during hydrolysis and condensation reaction under the acid-catalyzed process caused the decrease in the average molecular weight, which should result in the changes of thermal property of PhSiO_3/2 particles from thermosetting to thermoplastic.     

溶胶-凝胶硫离子传感器的研制及应用

报道了溶胶 凝胶硫离子传感器的制备方法及其在硫离子检测中的应用。采用循环伏安法(CV)对传感器修饰过程进行了表征,对其电化学过程的可行性及其响应机理进行了探讨。传感器在6.0×10-7～1.0mol L范围内符合Nernst方程式,线性相关系数r=0.9991,方法的检出限为2.0×10-7mol L。于4℃干态保存4周,响应信号基本不变,已用于环境水样的分析。