Organic-inorganic hybrid silica. Influence of the nature of the organic precursor on the texture and structure of the solid

This paper shows that the properties of hybrid organic-inorganic solids are kinetically controlled: All parameters able to modify the kinetics of the hydrolysis-polycondensation process (nature of the reaction used, concentration of reagents, solvent, functionality at silicon, catalyst, etc.) are of importance for both the physical and chemical properties of the solid. Hybrid gels obtained from hydrolysis of 1,4-bis(trihydrosilyl)phenylene compounds have been studied. All the kinetic parameters tested control the reactivity of the phenyl groups towards Cr(CO)(6), the hydrophilicity, the specific surface area and even the macroscopic aspect of the solids obtained by hydrolytic polycondensation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.