Hybrid organic–inorganic films by assembling of Si–Zr-based nanobuilding blocks

The possibility of combining inorganic and organic components at the nanosize level in a single material by the sol–gel process has made possible the development of new multifunctional materials. However, the phase interaction between organic and inorganic moieties can be controlled only to a limited extent by using hydrolysis–condensation reactions of metal alkoxides. The preparation of nanostructured organic–inorganic (O/I) materials by assembling of nanobuilding blocks (nbb) allows controlling the extent of phase interaction, which in its turn governs the structure–properties relationships. A suitable method is the preparation of inorganic nanosized preformed objects exploiting the features and the reactivity of functional end-capping organic groups.We present here the synthesis of Si- and Zr-based nanobuilding blocks prepared by reacting diphenylsilanediol and Si and Zr precursors, with M-OR or M-Cl functions. The non-hydrolytic condensation between silanols and alkoxide or chloride groups has been exploited in order to obtain the Si- and Zr-based nbb. These nanosized objects have been further processed by dip coating for preparing films starting from suitable solutions. The structural characterisation of prepared nbb has been obtained using infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques.