Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Amorphous Hybrid Silica Materials

Novel amorphous organic-inorganic hybrid silica materials have been prepared by the conventional sol-gel reaction of bis(gamma-trimethoxysilyl)propylamine (TMSPA) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) as a structure directing agent. The gelation of the hybrid silica gels took place faster as the TMSPA composition was higher. Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to characterize various hybrid materials. Nitrogen adsorption desorption isotherms at 77 K were used to determine the surface area, and average pore size. The hybrids were composed of macropores and a small amount of micropores. According to SEM photographs, the hybrids were composed of quite uniform aggregate of spherical particles with ca. 60 nm in diameter.