Affiliation: | a University of New Mexico, Center for Micro-Engineered Materials, Advanced Materials Laboratory, 1001 University Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA b Sandia National Laboratories, MS 1349, Albuquerque, NM 87185, USA |
Abstract: | The present study attempts to incorporate methacrylate-based polymers into ordered lamellar organic/inorganic nanocomposite films composed of alternating SiO2/polymer layers. The films are prepared by dip-coating from a solution containing the monomers and silica precursors, thus leading to composite lamellar mesostructured materials through evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA). A polymerizable coupling agent is added to covalently link the polymers to the silica matrix. The final polymer/SiO2 hybrid material is obtained by a separate free-radical polymerization step, initiated by UV exposure or thermal treatment. Using trimethoxy(7-octen-1-yl)silane as a coupling agent, a procedure was established that preserved the mesostructure and maintained the swelling properties of the polymers, while acrylate-based coupling agents lead to a significant distortion of the film mesostructure. Structure and composition of the films were studied by X-ray diffraction, NMR and IR. |