Novel approaches for the preparation of silica-based zwitterionic hybrid copolymers

Two novel routes for the preparation of silica-based zwitterionic hybrid copolymers were proposed. A series of zwitterionic hybrid copolymers were prepared by the sulfonation of phenyl groups and the quaternary amination of tertiary amine groups alternately. Both FT-IR and 1H NMR spectra confirm the step products. TGA and DrTGA analyses indicate that the thermal stability of these zwitterionic hybrid copolymers is higher than 400 °C. The determination of sulfonation degree reveals that the zwitterionic hybrid copolymer (c) from sulfonation–quarteramination (Route I) has the minimal value; meanwhile the anion-exchange capacity exhibits that the zwitterionic hybrid copolymer (e) from quarteramination–sulfonation (Route II) has the minimal value. These findings demonstrate the impact of electrostatic effect on the charge content of ionic groups. MALDI-TOF mass spectra exhibit that the decrease in the stability of the charged hybrid copolymers can be ascribed to the electrostatic effect between the molecular chains. The surface SEM images demonstrate that the surface of zwitterionic hybrid copolymer (e) from quarteramination–sulfonation (Route II) has some aggregated particles and form clusters regions in the hybrid matrix, which can also be attributed to the ionic interactions between those charged groups.