| The main objectives of this research were two fold: (a) controlling chemical interactions within sol-gels by means of light for photopatterning of hybrid organosilica sol-gels and (b) controlling physical interactions of encapsulated molecules with sol-gel matrices for photoseparation of different molecules in hybrid organosilica sol-gels based on charge and hydrophobic interactions.;In first part of the research, strategies were developed to design a method for generation of planar patterns using light. Photopatterned hybrid sol-gel thin films were synthesized and characterized using a variety of physical methods such as ellipsometric, profilometric and spectroscopic techniques. The effects of UV exposure, thermal stability, photoacid concentration changes, type of developer and refractive index of the films were examined. Photosensitivity was demonstrated in these hybrid glasses where light initiates the physical process consisting of opaque and translucent regions on the substrate.;The second part of this research focused on a novel design strategy to study the release and intake of various charged dyes in gel matrices with charged photoactive dyes. (Abstract shortened by UMI.). |
