Synthesis and properties of chitosan/SiO2 hybrid materials

This study primarily aims to explore the strength and thermal properties of various hybrid materials that are made of tetraethoxysilane/vinyltriethoxysilane (TEOS/VTES) and chitosan in different weight ratios. It is confirmed, from micro Fourier transform infrared (micro FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis, that hydrogen bonds emerge between chitosan and SiO2 in hybrid materials. With the addition of more VTES and TEOS, the surface of the hybrid material features thick granules. In addition, the mechanical performance and thermostability of both types of hybrid are better than pure chitosan. The former is enhanced with an increasing amount of TEOS until it exceeds 2.4 g and the latter is also improved with an increasing amount of TEOS.