Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Microporous and Ionomeric Materials

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This proposal involves synthesis and characterization of several new families of materials. Aryl gels are glass-like substances containing rigid-rod organic spacers inserted at regular intervals in a silicate-like network. The materials may be considered a hybrid of inorganic silicates and organic network polymers. Their synthesis is achieved by hydrolytic condensation of bis(trialkoxysilyl) aryl monomers and related derivatives using sol-gel chemistry. The mild conditions for their preparation coupled with the structural diversity of the organic component of the building block provides an opportunity for"engineering" the morphology of the resulting material. The proposed research will examine the relationship between monomer or "building block" structure and the morphology of the resulting material. These materials have potential applications in a diversity of areas including optical devices, chromatographic supports, and as molecular sieves. In a related study, new ionomeric materials containing hypervalent siliconates as the basic building block will be prepared. These materials have virtually no known analogues in nature. They hold promise as materials with unusual mechanical and ion conducting properties. This project is supported jointly by the Division of Materials Research, and the Chemistry Division.