abstract
In this work, pure urea crosslinked siloxane-based organic-inorganic hybrid and a lanthanide, in this case europium (Eu 3+), doped urea crosslinked siloxane based organic-inorganic hybrid materials were synthesized, analyzed and properties compared. The pure and doped materials were synthesized with di-ureasils (Jeffamine 600) / d-U600, zirconium (IV) n-propoxide (Zr(OC3H7)4) / ZPO, and methacrylic acid (H2C=C(CH3)CO2H) / MAA. The reaction between d-U600 and ZPO which was catalyzed by MAA was expected to cause a nucleophilic displacement, with zirconium ion of the ZPO displacing any of the silicon ion (Si 4+) grafted at both ends of the tripod siloxane, crosslinked to urea (-NHCO) functionality, then to the variable length poly(ether)-based backbone. However, from the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra, it seemed that the materials exhibited a non-bonded zirconium ion in the d-U(600)+ZPO(10% molars/SI)+MAA samples as though it is still a pure sample of d-U(600). The pure hybrid sample was strong, tough and rigid, while the Eu 3+ doped material was resilient on compression, showing viscoelastic behaviour. Photoluminescence spectra show that the Eu 3+ doped sample exhibited a moderate emission of blue, green and red, which are the primary colours of white light as opposed to the pure monolith which emitted a high intensity blue light.
authors
Nnamdi C. Iheaturu, ƒdison Pecoraro, Lu’s D. Carlos
our authors
