Distributed feedback multipeak laser emission in Rhodamine 6G doped organic-inorganic hybrids

Organic-inorganic hybrid materials were prepared from an ureasil precursor (ureapropyltriethoxysilane designated as UPTES) and acrylic acid modified zirconium (IV) n-propoxide. Thin films containing rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) were prepared by spin-coating on glass substrates with different Zr:Si molar ratios (Zr:Si = 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75). Refractive index, thickness, number of propagating modes and attenuation coefficient were measured at 543.5, 632.8 and 1550 nm wavelengths by the prism coupling technique. Distributed feedback (DFB) laser effect was observed and studied as a function of films thickness and refractive index.     

Fluorinated Copolymer-Oxide Hybrids

A fluorinated copolymer/metal oxide hybrid is fabricated by refluxing a high hydroxyl content fluorinated copolymer with tetraethoxysilane. The resulting organic-inorganic hybrids are transparent throughout the entire compositional range if processed with HCl as a catalyst. They exhibit a continuous variation in hardness, hydrophobicity, and abrasion resistance, intermediary between the properties of the pure polymer and that of a silica gel. The catalyst has a strong influence over the microstructure of the hybrid. ²⁹Si MAS-NMR indicates the presence of highly condensed silica clusters within the structure of the hybrid. If a Nd(III) alkoxide is used instead of TEOS, a Nd ³⁺-doped fluoropolymer is obtained. These results indicate that when a fluorinated copolymer contains groups amenable to hydrolysis and condensation, cross-linking with a metal alkoxide is possible, leading to an interesting families of hybrids.     

Synthesis of Bioactive and Porous Organic-Inorganic Hybrids for Biomedical Applications

Bioactivity has been exhibited by a limited range of ceramics since the invention of Bioglass®. Recently, some bioactive polymeric organic-inorganic hybrids were introduced, including not only organically modified silicates (Ormosils) synthesized from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and tetraethoxysilane but also those with gelatin and 3-glycidoxypropyl-tremethoxysilane. Preparation of the bulk and porous hybrids and their polymeric structures analyzed by Si NMR spectroscopy were presented. In vitro bioactivity or apatite deposition in a simulated body fluid of the Kokubo recipe were also described for those hybrids. Freeze-drying techniques introduced porosity (up to 90%) and pores extending in a preferred direction.     

Preparation of dye-loaded SiO2 nanoparticles

A room temperature method for the encapsulation of pyrene in SiO₂ nanoparticles is described. The relation between alkoxysilane surfactant chain length, reactant molar ratios and the uptake of dye, sample morphology, photophysical properties, and the ability of the silicate matrix to protect the encapsulated dye was examined. The synthesis can easily be adapted for the encapsulation of other hydrophobic and thermolabile substances, and used in the development of nanostructured optically active coatings, films and monoliths.     

Silica-Based and Transition Metal-Based Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Materials—A Comparison

Organically substituted metal alkoxides can be prepared by reaction of the parent alkoxides with complexing organic compounds. The chemical and structural consequences of such substitutions are discussed in this article. Examples are given showing how functional organic moieties, such as polymerizable groups, can be incorporated into sol-gel materials via the complexing ligands. Major structural differences between silica-based and metal-based hybrid materials originate from the different charge/coordination number ratios of silicon and most metals. This results in a high tendency for the molecular building blocks to aggregate. In many cases, metal oxide clusters are formed which are capped by the organic ligands. Such surface-modified clusters are themselves very valuable condensed matter units for materials syntheses.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic studies and crystal structure of a polyoxoanion cluster incorporating para-bromophenylimido ligand, (Bu4N)2[Mo6O18(NC6H4Br-p)]

An organic-inorganic hybrid compound, (Bu₄N)₂[Mo₆O₁₈(NAr)] (Ar = p-BrC₆H₄) has been synthesized via the DCC dehydrating protocol of the reaction of [α-Mo₈O₂₆]⁴⁻ with 4-bromoaniline hydrochloride in anhydrous acetonitrile, which has been characterized by UV-Vis spectra, ¹H NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction study. By comparing the UV-Vis spectra, which were used to monitor the reaction, the optimum preparative condition for this compound was also determined. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n, which is featured in a terminal para-bromophenylimido group linked to an Mo atom of a hexamolybdate cluster by a Mo-N triply bond. In addition, there are π-π dimerization of the neighboring cluster anions though the parallel aromatic rings in their crystals.     

Sol–gel preparation and properties of hydroxypropylcellulose–titania hybrid thin films

Hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC)–titania hybrid thin films were prepared by sol–gel method where titanium tetraisopropoxide Ti(OC₃H₇ ⁱ )₄ was hydrolyzed under acidic conditions in the presence of HPC, followed by dip-coating and drying at 120 °C for 24 h. The viscosity average molecular weight of HPC was 55,000–70,000 or 110,000–150,000, and the TiO₂/(HPC + TiO₂) mass ratio ranged from 0 to 1, which was calculated on the assumption that all Ti(OC₃H₇ ⁱ )₄ is converted into TiO₂. The films were 0.35–1.0 μm thick, transparent in visible region and opaque in ultraviolet (UV) region, where the optical absorption coefficient in UV region increased with increasing titania content. The refractive index increased with increasing titania content, ranging from 1.6 to 1.8 for the hybrid thin films. The pencil hardness increased from 6B to 5H, the durability in hot water significantly increased and the contact angle of water on films increased from 35° to 89° with increasing titania content. Crack-free films could be deposited on organic polymer substrates irrespective of titania or HPC contents, where cracking did not occur at higher HPC contents even when the substrate was bent.     

In Situ Processing of Nano Crystalline Oxide Particles/Polymer Hybrid

Nano sized crystalline particles/polymer hybrids were synthesized form designed metal-organic precursors. The newly developed method is composed of the synthesis of organic matrix by polymerization and the in situ nucleation and growth of crystalline oxide particles in the organic matrix below 100°C. The design of metal-organic precursor modified with polymerizable ligand and the selection of reaction conditions does influence the size and crystallinity of ceramic particles in organic matrix. The nano-sized magnetic particle/polymer hybrid exhibits the interesting feature of superparamagnetism and quantum size effect. The crystalline particles of BaTiO₃/, PbTiO₃/, and KNbO₃/polymer hybrids behave to be dielectric and show the typical electro-rheological behavior.     

Preparation of Saccharide-Silica Composites by a Sol-Gel Method and the Application for Optical Resolution of Metal Chelate Compounds

A novel organic-inorganic composite was prepared by a sol-gel process using hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) reacted with a saccharide. During the process, ethoxy groups of the TEOS were replaced with hydroxyl groups of the saccharide and, consequently, saccharide molecules were combined with silica through their hydroxyl groups. Samples obtained under different reaction conditions were used for optical resolution of a metal chelate compound. The resolution ability of the composites was affected by the amount of water added for hydrolysis and of the saccharide. In particular, the amount of water drastically influenced the optical resolution performance. Composites obtained at the lower H2O/TEOS ratio gave the metal chelate compound a higher optical rotation. Three types of composites with the same composition were prepared by kneading, impregnation and by the sol-gel method, and were compared. The sol-gel composite showed the best optical resolution ability. It was concluded that the optical resolution ability was closely related to dispersibility of saccharide in the silica matrix.     

A new inorganic-organic polymer for the passivation of thin film capacitors

Inorganic-organic polymers with barrier properties against water vapor, excellent electrical data (3, 2, R _D>10¹⁶ cm, E _D up to 400 V/µm) and good adhesion to various substrate materials have been developed. Tailored modifications of these materials provide an excellent protective coating for thin film capacitors. Several mm thick, expensive, encapsulations could be replaced by thin coatings (up to 10 µm). The polymer coating allows the use of thin film chip capacitors in surface-mount technology. As a measure for the efficiency of the coating, the capacitance decrease under controlled humidity has been used. The influence of the material composition, the type of catalyst during sol-gel processing and the curing conditions have been studied. Adhesion and water vapor permeation properties of the polymers and rheological properties of the coating solutions have been investigated. A protective coating is developed, which increases the withstandness of capacitors against humid conditions (90°C, 100% rel. humidity) by a factor of about 30 (compared to uncoated capacitors) and shows no crack formation during thermal cycling.