The sol-gel method: A new way to reversed phase materials. Synthesis and characterization by solid-state NMR spectroscopy

The sol-gel method offers a new approach for the synthesis of reversed-phase materials used in chromatography. Co-condensation of different amounts of tetraethoxysilane (Q(0)) and trifunctional alkylsilanes (T-0) leads to novel polymer networks with new properties, for example, high degrees of cross-linking and high ligand densities. Two different steps in synthesis, the sol-gel transition and the precipitation of homogeneous sols, are discussed. These new materials were studied by C-13 and Si-29 solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Further characterization was performed by BET measurements and scanning electron microscopy.