Nanoporous Silicas from Cationic Polymer-Silica Hybrids

A range of polyviologens was prepared via the Menshutkin reaction and incorporated into a silica matrix via the base catalysed hydrolytic sol-gel reaction. The resultant amorphous hybrids were found to consist mostly of aggregates of roughly spherical particles. Surface area analysis of the hybrids revealed a correlation between the length of the alkyl chain and the counter-ion upon the pore size distribution. Minimal shrinkage of the pores was observed when the polymer was removed via calcination.