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Transparent polyvinylsilsesquioxane aerogels: investigations on synthetic parameters and surface modification

  • Invited Paper: Nano- and macroporous materials (aerogels, xerogels, cryogels, etc.)
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Abstract

Systematic investigations on the effect of synthetic conditions onto the properties of polyvinylsilsesquioxane (CH2=CHSiO3/2) aerogels have been conducted. As previously reported, transparent polyvinylsilsesquioxane aerogels can be obtained by utilizing a liquid surfactant as a solvent and a two-step sol–gel reaction involving hydrolysis catalyzed by a strong acid and subsequent polycondensation by a strong base. In this study, effects of base catalyst, gelation and aging conditions, amount of surfactant and concentration of acid catalyst have been investigated. With the optimized synthetic condition, the value of light transmittance reaches as high as 70% (at the wavelength of 550 nm for a 10-mm thick sample). Applicability of addition reactions utilizing thiol-ene reactions and hydrosilylation has also been surveyed. Thiol-ene reactions are relatively effective and can modify surface hydrophobicity and mechanical properties of polyvinylsilsesquioxane aerogels. In the case of hydrosilylation, a partial addition of a hydrosilane compound onto the polyvinylsilsesquioxane gel surface can be observed. Addition reactions, in particular thiol-ene reactions, are found to be profitable for implementing chemical functionality on the transparent aerogels.

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Acknowledgements

The present study has been performed under financial support from Advanced Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Program (ALCA, Japan Science and Technology Agency).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Taiyo Shimizu, Kazuyoshi Kanamori & Kazuki Nakanishi

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  1. Taiyo Shimizu
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  2. Kazuyoshi Kanamori
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  3. Kazuki Nakanishi
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Correspondence to Kazuyoshi Kanamori.

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Shimizu, T., Kanamori, K. & Nakanishi, K. Transparent polyvinylsilsesquioxane aerogels: investigations on synthetic parameters and surface modification. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 82, 2–14 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-017-4339-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-017-4339-6

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