Fast Synthesis of Nanostructured Microspheres of a Bridged Silsesquioxane via Ultrasound-Assisted Sol-Gel Processing

ROMEO H.E., M.A. FANOVICH, R.J. J. WILLIAMS, L. MATÌJKA, J. PLETIL, J.BRUS

MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

Wiley

Año: 2008 vol. 210 p. 172 - 178

1022-1352

Microspheres of a nanostructured bridged silsesquioxane were synthesized by employing ultrasound-assisted self-assembly of a bridged monomer via sol–gel processing. The bridged precursor was synthesized from glycidoxypropyl(trimethoxysilane) (GPMS) (2 mol) and cyclohexylamine (1 mol). The main factor controlling the generation of a stable dispersion of microspheres was the time at which the phase separation of the silsesquioxane was produced during the hydrolytic condensation. An appropriate blend of THF/hexane as a solvent enabled to rapidly generate a stable dispersion exhibiting a low polydispersity. The mild reaction conditions produced the nanostructuring of the silsesquioxane characterized by a fine structure in SAXS spectrum. Inorganic domains were arranged in a two-dimensional hexagonal system leading to the formation of cavities in the microspheres which could be employed as host–guest systems in advanced technologies.