Tailored structuring of functionalized silsesquioxanes in a one-step approach

Abstract

The silica hybrid materials prepared from tailor-made precursors with different headgroups in several experimental conditions (acid or base catalysis in water or THF) were studied in order to identify the structure directing mechanisms. By infrared spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering and thermogravimetric analysis, it was found that the molecular interactions such as Coulomb interactions, vdW forces, hydrogen bonds and sterical factors that are strongly influenced by the experimental conditions, orient the main structural features. Secondarily, the chemically directed connectivity of the growing Si–O–Si network nuances the final structure. Finally, on heating to 130 °C, lamellar structures remained stable whereas the deformation of hexagonal and cubic structures shows metastability. The results can be regarded as an interaction tool box for “all-in-one” material chemists.