Self-organized nanocrystalline organosilicates in organic-inorganic hybrid films

A study was conducted to prepare self-organized nanocrystalline organosilicates in organic-inorganic hybrid films. 3- glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) was used as the precursor to form organosilica layered nanocrystals in organic-inorganic thin films. It was observed that controlling sol-gel synthesis of GPTMS based hybrids was complex because of large variety of possible reaction pathways and side reactions after opening of the epoxy ring. The GPTMS sol, after aging, was spin-coated on glass or silicon substrates to obtain optically transparent silica-based hybrid films. The study also involved an alcohol-free hydrolytic sol-gel reaction of GPTMS in highly basic conditions using NaOH as a catalyst. This method allowed the formation of organosilicate layered nanostructures in curable epoxy-silica hybrid films. The hybrid films after deposition exhibited good combination of properties to allow patterning by micromolding as a microfabrication technique.