Sol-gel encapsulation of bromothymol blue pH indicator in presence of Gemini 12-2-12 surfactant

A sol-gel approach was used to encapsulate bromothymol blue (BTB) C27H28Br2O5S pH indicator into mesoporous silica material, in presence of ethanediyl-1,2-bis(dimethyldodecylammonium chloride) (Gemini 12-2-12) surfactant. An ordered mesoporous inorganic matrix including Gemini 12-2-12 and BTB was obtained. It is found that encapsulated BTB/Gemini 12-2-12 exhibit same behavior for pH change as that of the free BTB, which indicate that only physical interaction between BTB molecules and host mesoporous silica network are obtained. The addition of Gemini 12-2-12 surfactant has increased the porosity of the host silica material and increased its sensing capability. The presence of Gemini 12-2-12 surfactant has shifted pKa values of the system to more acidic in comparison with that of free BTB, BTB entrapped silica and BTB/CTAB entrapped silica.