SOL-GEL ENTRAPMENT OF E(T)(30) IN ORMOSILS - INTERFACIAL POLARITY-FRACTALITY CORRELATION

E(T)(30) -diphenyl-4-(2,4,6-triphenyl-N-pyridino)phenolate) was succes sfully entrapped in organically modified silica (Ormosil) sol-gel matr ices, while retaining its sensitivity to the environment polarity. Thi s sensitivity was used to follow the variations in the cage interfacia l polarities of the Ormosils, which were prepared from various proport ions of methyltrimethoxysilane/tetramethoxysilane, and for probing the effective polarities within the pores and cages in the presence of se veral alkanols. Structural analysis of these Ormosils by small angle X -ray scattering revealed that these materials are surface fractals and that the surface fractality correlates linearly with the interfacial polarity of the materials. The doped sol-gel matrices are potentially suitable for alcohol sensors.