Silica-Based Nanoporous Materials

The azobenzene-functionalized ethene-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) was synthesized in a three step process. After synthesizing the pure PMO the azobenzene switch was post synthetically grafted at the ethene bridge. The successful synthesis was verified by N-2 sorption measurements, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and solid state MAS-NMR spectroscopy. The switching process of the azobenzene was proven by UV/Vis measurements.