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Fast Synthesis of Nanostructured Microspheres of a Bridged Silsesquioxane via Ultrasound‐Assisted Sol–Gel Processing
Author(s) -
Romeo Hernán E.,
Fanovich María A.,
Williams Roberto J. J.,
Matějka Libor,
Pleštil Josef,
Brus Jiří
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.200800492
Subject(s) - silsesquioxane , materials science , dispersity , monomer , small angle x ray scattering , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , nanoparticle , sol gel , dispersion (optics) , nanotechnology , polymer , composite material , scattering , physics , optics , engineering
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/ n ‐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.