Novel thermochromism in silica sol-gel materials

In this contribution we provide evidence for thermochromic color changes unique to silica based materials formed at low temperatures by the sol-gel process. The materials formed have potential application as temperature sensitive light filters, visual temperature indicators, self-diagnostic labels for electronic devices and IR recording media. The dopants, diamine complexes of copper(II)/nickel(II) chloride, change from purple to green following heating to 100 degrees C and revert to purple on cooling in the atmosphere. This color change has been explained by the substitution of water molecules by chloride ions in the first coordination sphere of the metal ions. When the same compounds are incorporated into a silica sol-gel matrix under acidic conditions the gel-glasses may be pale green, dark green, yellow, olive-yellow, blue or brown depending on the metal ion chosen and the extent of thermal treatment. Studies on the complexes themselves and on granular silicas doped with some of the complexes are assisting us in understanding the molecular mechanisms that give rise to these color changes.