Electrochemical analysis of the sol–gel synthesis of phosphonate-modified titania through the diffusion of a functionalised ferrocene

Titanium oxide/phenylphosphonate hybrids were prepared by a two-step sol–gel processing, in the presence of ferrocenylphosphonic acid as an electrochemical probe. We showed that as expected the diffusion of the redox species was related to the kinetics of the sol–gel polymerization. The probable passage through cluster Ti 4O(O i Pr) 8(PhPO 3) 3 has been confirmed by the electrochemical response under partial hydrolysis conditions.