Structure control in sol-gel silica synthesis using ionene polymers - Evidence from X-ray scattering

Two polyviologens synthesized by the Menshutkin reaction were incorporated into silica networks using the sol-gel method. The effects of the incorporated polymers on the structure of the resulting organic-inorganic hybrid materials were investigated using X-ray scattering (small and wide angle). This provided evidence that the polyviologens in a lyotropic liquid crystalline state were causing the silica network to become more dense and less branched than sol-gel glasses synthesized without added polyviologen. Additional evidence for the templating effect of these polymers was obtained using FTIR spectroscopy and N-2 adsorption-desorption isotherms.