Probing the microenvironment of an oligo-(p-phenylene vinylene) derivative encapsulated in polymer-impregnated sol-gel silica matrix

Polymer-impregnated silica sol-gel composite materials are hosts for organics in advanced optics application. An oligo-phenylene vinylene derivative 4,4'-(1,4-phenylene dithenylene)-bis-(N-methyl pyridinium iodide) (OPVD) was introduced to poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)-impregnated silica composite film by the sol-gel process. By comparing the X-ray diffraction, UV-visible spectra, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectra of OPVD in three solid matrices (PHEMA/silica composite film, pure PHEMA film, and pure silica film), the similar results of PHEMA/silica composite film and pure PHEMA film demonstrate that the OPVD is primarily surrounded by a PHEMA-like environment in the composite matrix. The model of such structure is presented, which is useful for further understanding and optimizing of properties of doped sol-gel materials.