Preparation of metal oxide or metal nanoparticles in silica via metal coordination to organofunctional trialkoxysilanes

Organofunctional silanes of the type (RO)(3)Si(CH2)(n)X, where X is a coordinating organic group, can be used to coordinate metal ions or metal alkoxide moieties (M). Sol-gel processing of the single-source precursors thus obtained, (RO)(3)Si(CH2)(n)X-M, followed by controlled degradation of the organic tethers and the coordinating groups, makes possible the preparation of MOx/SiO2 or M/SiO2 nanocomposites with a controllable nanoparticle size. (C) 2009 Society of Chemical Industry