Dynamics of the sol-gel transition in organic-inorganic nanocomposites

Abstract

Two different techniques have been used to follow the gelation of photochromic organic-inorganic nanocomposites. The variations of molecular and macromolecular motions in these complex systems have been analyzed. Photo-correlation spectroscopy probes the formation of the gel network. Forced Rayleigh scattering experiences the microstructure of the mixtures via the measurement of the translational diffusion coefficient of entrapped photoreactive targets. In the different mixtures, a drop of the network mobility could be observed around the sol to gel conversion, while the entrapped molecules do not experience the macroscopic transition.