Affinity Control of Aminopropylsiloxane-based Organic/Inorganic Hybrids for Optical Sensors

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe aminopropylsiloxane-based organic/inorganic hybrid is known as a sensitive material toward NO2gas for optical sensing systems but it has the irreversible detection. The affinity of the aminopropylsiloxane-based organic/inorganic hybrid toward NO2gas was controlled by incorporating an Nb inorganic component derived from Nb(OC2H5)5into the hybrid structure. The amino groups had a strong coordination bond with hydrolyzed Nb(OC2H5)5and/or an acid-base pair with an oxoanion formed by hydrolysis of Nb(OC2H5)5. Thus, the strong solid-basicity of the aminopropylsiloxane-based organic/inorganic hybrid was weakened. The aminopropylsiloxane-based organic/inorganic hybrid containing an Nb inorganic component provided reversible sensing toward NO2gas in an optical sensing system. NO2is thought to be more weakly adsorbed because of the weakened basicity of the amino groups.