Synthesis of multilayered silica-based hybrid films from difunctional organosilanes by co-hydrolysis and polycondensation with tetraalkoxysilane

Decylethyldimethoxysilane (C10EtDMS) and didecyldimethoxysilane (2C10DMS) were used to prepare thin films of silica-based hybrids by co-hydrolysis and polycondensation with tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) followed by spin-coating. The length of the second alkyl chains (Et or n-decyl) had large effects on the formation of ordered hybrid films. In the case of C10EtDMS, transparent films of well-ordered lamellar hybrids were formed with various TMOS/C10EtDMS ratios by controlling the degree of polycondensation in the precursor solutions. In contrast, no ordered hybrids were obtained in the case of 2C10DMS under the same conditions, due to the larger steric hindrance of the longer second alkyl chain in the co-condensation. Increases of both TMOS/2C10DMS and HCl/Si ratios in the starting solutions promoted polycondensation and lead to the formation of ordered hybrid films.