Vibrational spectroscopic studies of sol-gel derived physical and chemical bonded ORMOSILs

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and FT-Raman Spectroscopy have been utilized to characterize the structure of physical and chemical bonded ORMOSILs (organically modified silicates) and to compare with the physical properties, reported earlier. The classic and sono ORMOSILs were synthesized by sol-gel method via traditional- and sono-catalysis routes, respectively. The physical and chemical bonding is established by Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and Poly(dimethoxysilane) (PDMS), respectively. Existence of band at ∼560 cm⁻¹ (FT-IR) and ∼490 cm⁻¹ (FT-Raman) for the sono and classic gels with 5-10 wt% of PEG indicates the presence of structural defect due to the four-membered siloxane rings. Application of long molecular PEG chain and PDMS increases this defect. Modification in the intensity and peak position of siloxane (Si-O-Si) bands is found correlative with the physical properties. The xerogels with 5-10 wt% of PEG possess a large number of residual surface silanol groups than the xerogels with long molecular PEG chains and PDMS and is found related with the ν(OH) band at ∼3470 cm⁻¹. These results are attributed to the way of hydrolysis-condensation reactions and discussed with the help of Percolation and DLVO models.