title: Catalytic sol-gel co-polycondensation of para-substituted phenylsilanes and bis(silyl)phenylene to robust organosilicas using colloidal nickel nanoparticles.
abstract: The dry sol-gel co-polycondensation at toluene in ambient air atmosphere of p-X-C6H4SiH3 (X = H, CH3, CH3O, F, Cl) and p-H3Si-C6H4SiH3 (9:1 mole ratio) to co-silicas (p-X-C6H4SiO1.5)9(p-O1.5Si-C6H4SiO1.5)1 in high yield, catalyzed by colloidal nickel nanoparticles in-situ generated from nickelocene(II) is described. The co-gels (p-X-C6H4SiO1.5)9(p-O1.5Si-C6H4SiO1.5)1 with higher molecular weights and TGA residue yield were obtained when compared to the homogels p-X-C6H4SiO1.5 Some degree of unreacted Si-H bonds still remained in the gel matrix because of steric bulkiness. All the insoluble gels adopt an amorphous structure with a smooth surface. A plausible mechanism for the dry sol-gel reaction was provided.
authors.affiliation: Alan G. MacDiarmid Energy Research Institute (AMERI), Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC), and Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Korea.
authors.forename: Myoung-Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hee-Gweon
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Byeong-Gweon
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myong-Shik
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Honglae
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Whan Gi
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Ko