Thermal and FT-IR study of the hybrid ethylene-glycol-silica matrix

Hybrid organic-inorganic materials, silica—ethylene glycol (EG), were prepared by the sol-gel process from mixtures of tetraetoxysilane (TEOS) and EG under acidic catalysis. The resulting hybrid material was studied through thermal analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. This techniques evidenced the presence of EG in the silica matrix in three forms: free in the hybrid matrix pores, hydrogen bonded with the silanol groups and chemically bonded (through condensation) in the silica network. Through the thermal treatment of the hybrid matrix, we obtained a silica matrix, with specific surface of 360 m2/g.