Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evolution of Porosity and Morphology in Alkylene-Bridged Polysilsesquioxane Xerogels as a Function of Gel Aging Time

  • Published:
MRS Online Proceedings Library Aims and scope

Abstract

Aging of silica gels before drying is known to result in significant changes in xerogel morphology, porosity and properties. In this study, the influence of aging gels on the porosity and morphology of alkylene-bridged polysilsesquioxane xerogels was examined. Gels of hexylene-, heptylene, octylene, nonylene, and decylene-bridged polysilsesquioxanes were prepared by the sol-gel polymerization of the respective bis(trimethoxysilyl)alkane monomers under acidic or basic conditions in methanol and in tetrahydrofuran. The gels were aged 3, 7, 14, 28, 35, 42, 49, and 56 days before drying to afford xerogels. The xerogels were characterized by nitrogen sorption porosimetry. Xerogels prepared in THF were non-porous. Those prepared and aged under basic conditions in methanol or tetrahydrofuran exhibited coarsening of porosity with aging time. With the exception of the hexylene-bridged gels, those prepared and aged in acidic methanol showed little change with aging. The surface area of the hexylene-bridged xerogels nearly tripled with aging times of up to several weeks, then decreased, for the gels aged for more than two weeks, to around 100 meters squared per gram.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. K. J. Shea, J. J. E. Moreau, D. A. Loy, R. J. P. Corriu, B. Boury, “Functional Hybrids Based on Bridged Silsesquioxanes” Hybrid Functional Materials, ed. P. Gomez-Romero and C. Sanchez (Wiley, 2004) pp. 50–85.

    Google Scholar 

  2. K. J. Shea, D. A. Loy, Chem. Mater. 13(10), 3306 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. D. A. Loy, K. J. Shea, Chem. Rev. 95(5), 1431 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. V. M. Chertov, D. B. Dzhambaeva, I. E. Neimark, Ukr. Khim. Zh. 31, 1253 (1965).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. H. W. Oviatt, K. J. Shea, J. H. Small, Chem. Mater. 5, 943 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. D. A. Loy, G. M. Jamison, B. M. Baugher, E. M. Russick, R. A. Assink, S. Prabakar, K. J. Shea, J. Non-Cryst. Solids 186, 44 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Los Alamos National Laboratory, an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, is operated by the University of California for the United States Department of Energy under contract W- 7405-ENG-36. Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy under Contract DEAC04- 94AL85000.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Polymers and Coatings Department, Los Alamos National Laboratories, PO Box 1662 MS E549, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, U.S.A.

    Douglas A. Loy, James H. Small, Kimberly A. DeFriend, Kennard V. Wilson Jr, McKenzie Minke, Brigitta M. Baugher, Colleen R. Baugher, Duane A. Schneider & Kenneth J. Shea

  2. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, 87185, U.S.A.

    McKenzie Minke, Brigitta M. Baugher, Colleen R. Baugher & Duane A. Schneider

  3. Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, U.S.A.

    Kenneth J. Shea

Authors
  1. Douglas A. Loy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. James H. Small
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kimberly A. DeFriend
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kennard V. Wilson Jr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. McKenzie Minke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Brigitta M. Baugher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Colleen R. Baugher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Duane A. Schneider
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Kenneth J. Shea
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Loy, D.A., Small, J.H., DeFriend, K.A. et al. Evolution of Porosity and Morphology in Alkylene-Bridged Polysilsesquioxane Xerogels as a Function of Gel Aging Time. MRS Online Proceedings Library 847, 65–72 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-847-EE10.3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-847-EE10.3

Search

Navigation