Mesoporous Silica Functionalized by Nickel-Cyclam Molecules: Preparation and Resonance Raman Study

Abstract Mesoporous silica SBA-15 functionalized by (1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) cyclam groups containing nickel ions (Ni-cyclam) was synthesized by two different approaches, and investigated by resonance Raman spectroscopy. Vibrational features of organometallic moleculess are analyzed for (Ni-cyclam) groups grafted in the silica pores. An assignment of bands in resonance Raman spectra was done to monitor the structure and properties of the mesoporous silica material with regard to the methods of synthesis used in this study. It was shown, that Raman scattering can be useful for probing of functionalization's efficiency of mesoporous silica. On the base of the resonance investigation: Raman and EPR spectroscopy, distribution of the functional groups inside pores can be determined. In the present article the Raman spectroscopy is treat as a complementary research to EPR investigation. It was shown that a clustering of the active groups alter significantly the resonance Raman spectra through broadening and shifts of the corresponding bands in comparison with separated molecules. Results obtained from the analysis of the resonance Raman spectra indicate significant differences between the samples prepared by the two procedures. The discussion of the Raman results was referred to EPR results, and on the base of this authors concluded about correct achievement of the functionalization.