Abstract

The structure of polydimethylsiloxane–vanadate (PDMSV) hybrid materials has been fully investigated. In particular, the use and interpretation of thermogravimetric analysis, IR, Raman and multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁷O, ²⁹Si, ⁵¹V) spectroscopies allowed an accurate description of their structure on a nanometric scale. The networks are composed of dimethylsiloxane segments with an average size of five to six units linked to monomeric vanadate units VO(OSiMe₂..)₃. Both units have been identified in cross-linked areas and in end groups. The dissolution and the degradation behaviour of the PDMSV materials are also described.