Publications Details

Synthesis and characterization of vinyl-bridged polysilsesquioxane sol-gel materials

Yamanaka, S.A.

Vinyl-bridged polysilsesquioxane gels were formed through the use of sol-gel polymerization methods. Acid- and base-catalyzed samples were prepared from both the pure cis-(l) and pure trans-(2) isomers of 1, 2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethylene. Gelation times of the two isomers were compared. The trans monomer 2 formed gels within a week while the cis monomer I failed to gel-even after several months. Gelation of 1 could be promoted by the addition of a coordinating metal such as palladium. The resulting cis- and trans- vinyl-bridged polysilsesquioxane gels were then processed either by vacuum drying to afford xerogels or by extracting with supercritical carbon dioxide to afford aerogels. These vinylbridged polysilsesquioxanes were characterized by SEM, nitrogen sorption porosimetry, solid State {sub 29}Si and {sub 13}C NMR and x-ray powder diffraction.