Hybrid silica gel polytetrahydrofuran thin films

The sol-gel process has been used to prepare hybrid silica gel-polytetrahyd rofuran (PTHF) thin films, using tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) as the prec ursor. The films were prepared by spin-coating, and characterized by profil ometry, transmission FTIR and SEM. Film properties were conditioned by the preparation procedure as well as by the initial recipe, namely the solvent, polymer content and molecular weight. Evidence was obtained of the partici pation of the polymer in the condensation step of the process, interacting by hydrogen bonds with hydroxyl groups of the silicate network.