2
Fourier transform mid-IR and Raman spectroscopies were employed to investigate the anionic local surrounding in sol–gel derived organic/inorganic materials–monourethanesils–incorporating europium triflate, Eu(CF3SO3)3.
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3
The hybrid framework of these xerogels contains short methyl end capped polyether segments grafted to a siliceous network through urethane cross-links.
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4
Samples with compositions ∞ > n ≥ 10 (where n indicates the ratio of (OCH2CH2) moieties per lanthanide ion) were examined.
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5
The spectral data obtained provide conclusive evidence of the presence of “free” and weakly coordinated CF3SO3– ions located in two distinct sites in the whole range of salt concentration analyzed.
Type: Conclusion |
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6
At n = 30 and 10, along with these species, two new anionic configurations, assigned to contact ion pairs and “cross-link separated” ions pairs, emerge.
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7
Two-dimensional correlation spectroscopic analysis allowed to clarify the number of components present in two critical bands containing strongly overlapped spectral profiles.
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8
The number of anionic environments found in the m-Ut(750)nEu(CF3SO3)3 family confirms the rich coordinating possibilities offered by polymer systems incorporating trivalent triflate salts.
Type: Conclusion |
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Introduction
9
This paper is the second of two papers devoted to the investigation of a family of Eu3+-based sol–gel derived organic/inorganic materials designated as monourethanesils.1–3
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10
These xerogels were recently introduced with the goal of serving as model compounds of a series of structurally complex poly(oxyethylene), POE/siloxane hybrids (diureasils)4 that are excellent candidates for the construction of new low cost, multipurpose, one material-based devices, combining several technologically useful features, such as, for instance, conducting, optical and magnetic properties.4–7
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11
With the scope of gaining a deeper knowledge of the structure/properties relationship in the diureasil system, we will continue to examine in the present work the same set of europium triflate, Eu(CF3SO3)3-doped monourethanesil samples analyzed in Part .13
Type: Goal |
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12
The compounds studied include short methyl end capped POE chains covalently bonded to a siliceous backbone through urethane groups.
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13
The host matrix was termed m-Ut(750), where m stands for mono, Ut indicates the urethane linkage and 750 denotes the average molecular weight of the organic precursor used (corresponding to about 17 (OCH2CH2) repeat units).
Type: Model |
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14
In Part 1, Fourier transform mid-IR (FT-IR) and Raman (FT-Raman) spectroscopies, photoluminescence spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry enabled us to conclude that, in terms of cation/polymer and cation/cross-link interactions, the m-Ut(750)-based xerogels may be viewed as an adequate replica of the long-chain U(2000)nEu(CF3SO3)3 diureasil parent analogs (where U indicates the urea group, 2000 denotes the average molecular weight of the organic precursor used and n is the ratio of (OCH2CH2) units per Eu3+ ion).3
Type: Background |
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15
As the role of the anion on the coordination of the Eu3+ ions in the monourethanesil-type system has not been considered yet, we will be specifically concerned in Part 2 with the evaluation of the extent of ionic association in the m-Ut(750)nEu(CF3SO3)3 nanocomposites in order to shed more light into the description of the local chemical environment of the lanthanide ions which was initiated in Part .13
Type: Goal |
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ConceptID: Goa3
16
The Eu3+⋯CF3SO3– interactions in the m-Ut(750)nEu(CF3SO3)3 hybrids will be assessed through a FT-IR/FT-Raman spectroscopic analysis of the characteristic modes of the CF3SO3– ion.
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17
This anion is an excellent probe for investigating the cationic and anionic environments in salt/polymer systems, since the assignment of its internal vibration modes is well established.8,9
Type: Object |
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ConceptID: Obj6
18
The differentiation between the various associated species (contact ion pairs, solvent separated ion pairs, ionic multiplets or salt aggregates) is manifested in the spectra through different frequency shifts and/or splittings of different magnitude of characteristic vibrational bands of the “free” anion.8–21
Type: Method |
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19
The present spectroscopic analysis will essentially rely on deconvolution procedures.
Type: Method |
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ConceptID: Met2
20
Unfortunately, the curve-fitting of some of the triflate bands which are most sensitive to coordination effects is not straightforward, as they are in general broad and commonly contain multiply overlapped components.
Type: Method |
Advantage: No |
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ConceptID: Met2
21
To unravel the most critical triflate regions of the spectra of the monourethanesils, we will also employ two-dimensional (2D) correlation spectroscopic analysis22.
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Results and discussion
IR and Raman spectroscopic data
22
It is generally assumed that a “free” CF3SO3– ion in a staggered configuration with a C3v point group symmetry possesses 18 normal modes with the symmetry representations 5A1 + A2 + 6E.
Type: Model |
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23
The A1 and E modes are IR and Raman active, whereas the A2 mode, associated with the internal torsion of the anion, is inactive both in IR and Raman.
Type: Background |
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24
All these modes are to a greater or lesser extent sensitive to coordination effects and can thus be employed to probe the local chemical surrounding experienced by the anion.8–21
Type: Background |
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25
The characteristic bands of the CF3SO3– ion are clearly discerned in the room-temperature FT-IR spectra of the m-Ut(750)nEu(CF3SO3)3 monourethanesils between 1400 and 550 cm–1 (Fig. 1) and in the room-temperature FT-Raman spectra of the same compounds in the 1600–100 cm–1 spectral range (Fig. 2).
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26
Their frequency and assignment are given in Table 1.
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27
The specific spectral behavior of the xerogels investigated in the present work as a function of salt content will be discussed in detail below.
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νa(SO3) region
28
The FT-IR spectra of the m-Ut(750)-based compounds with 400 ≥ n ≥ 30 exhibit a broad envelope in the νa(SO3) region (Fig. 1).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs1
29
On the contrary, the FT-IR spectrum of the m-Ut(750)10Eu(CF3SO3)3 hybrid displays a series of sharp, distinct bands centered at about 1317, 1293, 1284, 1252, 1239 and 1216 cm–1 (Fig. 1).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs2
30
Close analysis of the FT-IR spectrum of the non-doped hybrid host represented in Fig. 1 reveals that between 1350 and 1200 cm–1 the contribution of the polymer vibration modes is quite strong, a fact that complicates the detection of the triflate bands in the spectra of the materials incorporating Eu3+ ions.
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31
In order to discriminate the spectral changes introduced by the addition of Eu(CF3SO3)3 to m-Ut(750), we will examine the FT-IR difference spectra reproduced in Fig. 3.
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32
These curves were obtained by subtracting the spectrum of the non-doped matrix from those of the salt containing xerogel materials with n > 10.
Type: Method |
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33
This approach was not applied, however, to the m-Ut(750)10Eu(CF3SO3)3 sample because in this compound, unlike in the more dilute monourethanesils, the polyether segments play an active role in the coordination of the lanthanide ions, that results in dramatic morphological modifications in the polymer chains (Fig. 1 and Part .13)
Type: Method |
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34
Fig. 3 allows to infer that in the νa(SO3) region the most pronounced effect originating from the addition of increasing amounts of the guest lanthanide salt is the growth of a wide structured feature centered around 1274 cm–1.
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35
The inset in Fig. 3 shows that this band can be resolved into three components centered at about 1287, 1274 and 1262 cm–1 (Table 1).
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36
The typical results of the curve-fitting carried out in this envelope for the xerogel with n = 70 are reproduced in Fig. 4.
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37
Fig. 3 also demonstrates that the band shape of the νa(SO3) event remains practically unchanged for a wide range of salt concentration (400 ≥ n ≥ 50), meaning that the increase of the guest salt content within this composition range does not change the general picture of the cation–anion interactions in the system.
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38
Fig. 1 substantiates that, in the νa(SO3) region, the band contour of the rich-salt m-Ut(750)-based composite with n = 10 is drastically different from those of the monourethanesils with 400 ≥ n ≥ 50.
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39
The tremendous spectral modifications discerned in this spectrum start to develop already in that of m-Ut(750)30Eu(CF3SO3)3 (Figs. 1 and 3).
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40
To gain additional information of the changes undergone by the νa(SO3) mode of the monourethanesil xerogels at high Eu(CF3SO3)3 content (n = 30 and 10), we performed curve-fitting in the 1345–1200 cm–1 frequency envelope.
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41
The obtained results lead us to conclude that, apart from the peaks positioned at about 1286, 1274 and 1263 cm–1 (already produced by the more dilute samples), four new components exist in the spectra of these two samples near 1317, 1295, 1251 and 1213 cm–1 (Fig. 4, Table 1).
Type: Conclusion |
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42
These four bands dominate in the νa(SO3) envelope of m-Ut(750)10Eu(CF3SO3)3 (Fig. 4, Table 1).
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ConceptID: Res11
νs(CF3) and νa(CF3) regions
43
In the FT-IR spectra of the monourethanesils with n > 30 the νs(CF3) band is found at about 1224 cm–1 (Figs. 1 and 3, Table 1).
Type: Observation |
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44
This feature shows intensity growth with salt addition and becomes a prominent band centered at approximately 1237 cm–1 in the FT-IR spectra of the two most concentrated samples (Figs. 3 and 4, Table 1).
Type: Result |
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45
In the case of m-Ut(750)10Eu(CF3SO3)3, the 1237 cm–1 band is the second strongest absorption feature of the spectrum (Fig. 1).
Type: Result |
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ConceptID: Res13
46
The νa(CF3) band is seen in the FT-IR spectra of the m-Ut(750)-based materials with n > 10 as a shoulder situated around 1156 cm–1 (Table 1).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs4
47
As already noted in Part 1,3 the identification of this feature is subject to some uncertainty, because it overlaps the polymer band originated from the coupled vibration of the ν(CO) and ρr(CH2) modes, situated near 1142 cm–1.
Type: Result |
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ConceptID: Res14
48
Nevertheless, the IR-difference spectra (Fig. 3) demonstrate that a sharp asymmetric band centered at about 1165 cm–1 develops in the spectrum as salt concentration rises.
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49
This event becomes a very intense band in the spectrum of the most concentrated sample analyzed (Figs. 1 and 4).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs5
50
It is noteworthy that the broad νa(CF3) profile of the latter monourethanesil becomes multicomponent (Fig. 1).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs6
51
It was resolved into five components: a very intense peak situated at about 1170 cm–1, a strong component that appears as a shoulder near 1178 cm–1, and three other less intense shoulders at 1186, 1164 and 1156 cm–1 (Table 1).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs6
νs(SO3) region
52
Figs. 1 and 5 (left) evidence that in the νs(SO3) region the FT-IR spectra of m-Ut(750)-based compounds with 400 ≥ n ≥ 30 exhibit a narrow feature located at 1032 cm–1.
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs7
53
Its intensity progressively rises with the incorporation of more Eu(CF3SO3)3, but its position is salt concentration independent.
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54
Figs. 2 and 5 (right) show that, in this range of wavenumbers, the Raman spectra of the xerogel materials with n > 10 also display a very sharp peak centered at 1032 cm–1, whose intensity grows with salt addition.
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ConceptID: Res17
55
The νs(SO3) envelope was analyzed in more detail by means of 2D correlation spectroscopy.
Type: Method |
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Novelty: New |
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56
The results of this study will be presented in the next section.
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57
As expected, the spectral signature of the most concentrated material differs deeply from those of the more dilute monourethanesils.
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ConceptID: Res18
58
Thus in the FT-IR spectrum of this sample two main events at 1037 and 1032 cm–1 and two shoulders situated at 1042 and 1022 cm–1 are evident (Fig. 5 (left), Table 1).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs8
59
The corresponding Raman spectrum exhibits a strong band at 1039 cm–1 and shoulders at 1045, 1032 and 1025 cm–1 (Figs. 5 (right) and 6, Table 1).
Type: Observation |
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Novelty: None |
ConceptID: Obs9
δs(CF3) region
60
In the FT-IR spectra of the doped monourethanesils the δs(CF3) mode appears as a very weak to weak, ill-defined event (Fig. 1).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs10
61
Fig. 7 (left) shows that the intensity maximum of this band is progressively shifted toward higher wavenumbers as more salt is incorporated into the m-Ut(750) matrix (about 754, 756 and 765 cm–1 in the FT-IR spectra of the compounds with n = 400, 30 and 10, respectively).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs11
62
The FT-Raman spectra illustrated in Fig. 2 allow us to conclude that in the δs(CF3) region the Eu3+-doped monourethanesils with 400 ≥ n ≥ 30 produce a sharp, weak to medium intensity feature, whose intensity maximum is displaced from approximately 755 cm–1 in the most dilute material to 757 cm–1 in the sample with n = 30.
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63
In the spectrum of the most concentrated sample this band becomes significantly broader and weaker and its intensity maximum appears at 761 cm–1 (Fig. 2).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs12
64
In addition, a shoulder located around 769 cm–1 emerges (Fig. 7 (right)).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs13
65
A closer consideration of this spectral range clearly suggests, however, that several components can be resolved in this region.
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66
A deeper investigation of the δs(CF3) feature will be performed in the following section.
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ConceptID: Obj9
700–300 cm–1 region
67
Between 700 and 500 cm–1 the spectrum of the “free” triflate ion displays a band of the symmetric deformation vibration of the SO3 group, δs(SO3), around 637 cm–1 and a peak, originated from the asymmetric deformation vibration of the CF3 group, δa(CF3), positioned at about 572 cm–1.9
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68
On coordination of the anion to metal cations, both features shift to higher wavenumbers.9,14b,19b
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69
In the 500–300 cm–1 envelope, a non-bonded CF3SO3– ion produces two spectral bands around 346 and 308 cm–1 ascribed to the rocking vibration of the SO3 group, ρr(SO3), and to the symmetric stretching vibration of the CS group, νs(CS), respectively.9
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70
These two modes are also upshifted upon coordination.9,14b,19b
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71
In the FT-IR spectra of the monourethanesil compounds under investigation the δs(SO3) band is a sharp feature found at 639 cm–1, whose intensity progressively increases with the addition of lanthanide salt (Fig. 1, Table 1).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs14
72
In the FT-IR spectrum of m-Ut(750)10Eu(CF3SO3)3 sample this mode becomes a very strong event (Fig. 1, Table 1).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs15
73
A shoulder located near 644 cm–1 is also detected in the FT-IR spectra of the monourethane xerogels in the whole range of salt concentration (Table 1).
Type: Observation |
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74
A comprehensive curve-fitting allowed us to conclude that the m-Ut(750)nEu(CF3SO3)3 hybrids with 400 ≥ n ≥ 30 produce in the FT-Raman spectra a very weak to weak band at about 573 cm–1 with a shoulder situated around 582 cm–1 (Table 1).
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75
The characteristic ρr(SO3) and νs(CS) bands are discerned in the same spectra near 347 and 314 cm–1, respectively (Fig. 2, Table 1).
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76
Their intensity is enhanced with the incorporation of increasing amounts of the guest salt.
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77
In addition, two shoulders are found at 353 and 321 cm–1 (Table 1).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs17
78
At n = 30, two other shoulders located at approximately 631 and 570 cm–1 appear in the FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra, respectively (Table 1).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs18
79
Upon further addition of the guest salt (m-Ut(750)10Eu(CF3SO3)3) the former shoulder shifts to 627 cm–1 and the latter one vanishes.
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs19
80
In addition two new shoulders situated at 363 and 309 cm–1 emerge in the FT-Raman spectrum (Table 1).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs20
Two-dimensional spectroscopic correlation analysis
81
In order to investigate in depth the changes of the spectral intensities occurring in δs(CF3) and νs(SO3) frequency envelopes as a function of salt concentration, we performed a 2D Correlation FT-IR and Raman spectroscopic study on the set of materials with 400 ≥ n ≥ 30.
Type: Goal |
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82
The sample with n = 10 was excluded from this analysis because its vibrational spectrum exhibits crucial transformations originating from drastic reconfiguration of the polymer matrix.3
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ConceptID: Obj10
83
The main goal of 2D correlation vibrational spectroscopy is to detect dynamic variations of spectroscopic signals induced by an external perturbation, which in the present case was the incorporation of different amounts of Eu(CF3SO3)3.
Type: Method |
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Novelty: Old |
ConceptID: Met6
84
In dynamic vibrational spectra, typical changes are variations of band intensity, frequency shifts of the bands and modifications in the shape of the peaks.
Type: Method |
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Novelty: Old |
ConceptID: Met6
85
The detected spectral change is then transformed in 2D spectra by means of a specialized correlation method, such as the one described in the Experimental section.
Type: Method |
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Novelty: Old |
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86
As a result of this transformation, one obtains two 2D correlation spectra generally called synchronous and asynchronous maps.
Type: Method |
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Novelty: Old |
ConceptID: Met6
87
Correlation peaks appearing in the synchronous and asynchronous maps represent in-phase and out-of-phase variation tendencies of corresponding band intensities, respectively.
Type: Method |
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Novelty: Old |
ConceptID: Met6
88
It should be also stressed that 2D correlation analysis is a powerful tool for the determination of the number of spectral components in strongly overlapped profiles.22
Type: Method |
Advantage: Yes |
Novelty: Old |
ConceptID: Met6
89
To elucidate the question about the local coordination of the CF3SO3– ions, it was important to examine the spectral region characteristic of the δs(CF3) mode, which has been found to be extremely sensitive to the environmental changes around the anion.10a–d,10f–r
Type: Object |
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ConceptID: Obj11
90
The synchronous 2D correlation Raman spectra obtained for the series of monourethane cross-linked xerogels with 200 ≥ n ≥ 30 in the 770–750 cm–1 frequency region (Fig. 8 (top)) displays a single peak located on the diagonal of 2D correlation map with the coordinate of 761 cm–1.
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs21
91
We must note that the peaks at diagonal positions, designated as autopeaks, develop in the spectral intervals which demonstrate stronger intensity change with the external perturbation.22
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92
Consequently, the 2D correlation analysis indicates that, as salt content rises, the strongest intensity change appears around 761 cm–1, i.e., at a characteristic frequency of coordinated triflate species.
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93
This means that, as more Eu(CF3SO3)3 is introduced into the m-Ut(750) matrix, the concentration of the triflate environment responsible for the 761 cm–1 component increases in the xerogels.
Type: Result |
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ConceptID: Res30
94
The growth of this event is clearly evidenced in the Raman spectra of the m-Ut(750)nEu(CF3SO3)3 compounds with 200 ≥ n ≥ 30 (Fig. 7 (right)).
Type: Result |
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ConceptID: Res31
95
The asynchronous 2D correlation map derived for the same set of monourethanesil samples in the same range of frequencies is given in Fig. 8 (bottom).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs22
96
It is believed that cross peaks (i.e., off-diagonal peaks) in asynchronous 2D spectra usually indicate the lack of strong chemical interactions or direct connectivity between the functional groups.
Type: Background |
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ConceptID: Bac4
97
They appear rather due to a difference in reorientational rates of transition moments of the functional groups which are located in different local molecular environments.22
Type: Background |
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98
By extending lines from the spectral coordinates of the cross peaks to the corresponding diagonal positions, one obtains the frequencies at which the maximum variation of spectral intensities is observed.22
Type: Method |
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Novelty: Old |
ConceptID: Met7
99
Thus the map shown in Fig. 8 (bottom) suggests that there are three distinct components located at 761, 757 and 753 cm–1 in the δs(CF3) band envelope.
Type: Result |
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100
Based on these results we carried out curve-fitting of the δs(CF3) envelope.
Type: Method |
Advantage: None |
Novelty: New |
ConceptID: Met8
101
The δs(CF3) region of the monourethanesils with 400 ≥ n ≥ 30 was decomposed into three components centered at about 762, 757 and 753 cm–1 (Fig. 9, Table 1).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs23
102
The band at lowest frequency is associated with “free” anions,9 whereas the other two are due to coordinated CF3SO3– ions.
Type: Result |
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ConceptID: Res33
103
In the spectrum of the sample with n = 10 two additional peaks are seen at 769 and 765 cm–1 (Fig. 9, Table 1).
Type: Observation |
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ConceptID: Obs24
104
The latter event is assigned to coordinated anions.
Type: Result |
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105
The 769 cm–1 feature must be characteristic of the crystalline compound.3
Type: Result |
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ConceptID: Res35
106
Fig. 10 shows the contour of the asynchronous 2D correlation map constructed from the salt concentration perturbed FT-IR spectra of the monourethanesils with 200 ≥ n ≥ 30 in the 1045–1020 cm–1 region.
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107
This map exhibits four cross peaks, two of positive and two of negative intensity.
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108
Hence, in the investigated νs(SO3) envelope three spectral components centered at 1036, 1032 and 1026 cm–1 may be resolved (Fig. 10).
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109
Similar conclusions were obtained through curve-fitting (Fig. 6, Table 1).
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110
The most intense peak, located at 1032 cm–1, is attributed to the ‘free’ triflate anions.9
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111
The pair of events at 1036 and 1026 cm–1 may be associated with coordinated anions in two different ionic environments.19b,20a
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112
It must be noted at this stage that the band observed in the 1045–1020 cm–1 spectral interval may be fitted with a good accuracy by a single Lorentzian peak (especially at low salt contents).
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113
In two Raman studies of ion association in complexes formed between POE or poly(oxypropylene) and triflate salts containing mono-, di- and trivalent cations, it was shown that the 1032 cm–1 band, characteristic of the “free” triflate ion, always demonstrated Lorentzian shape regardless the type of cation.18a,b
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114
However, it is essential to remark that, while in the Raman spectra reported in refs. 18a and b the half-width of the 1032 cm–1 feature was about 5.5 cm–1 (with the highest value of 7 cm–1 detected in a material doped with Nd3+ ions), in the spectra of the xerogels investigated in the present work the fit by a single Lorentzian curve produces a peak with half-width of 9.5 cm–1 for the low concentration samples, which further increases up to 11.5 cm–1 as the guest salt content rises.
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115
Under such conditions it is clear that fitting by a single Lorentzian shape may hide the presence of side bands of lower intensity.
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116
Therefore, in the selection of the fitting parameters we took into account the three following factors: (i) the unexplainably large half-width found when the band was fitted by a single Lorentzian profile; (ii) the high probability of existence of differently coordinated triflate species; (iii) the results derived from the 2D correlation analysis performed in this frequency envelope (Fig. 10).
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117
Since we do not use the curve-fitting data for the determination of the total integral intensities, but just to estimate frequency positions of the components, we believe that the present analysis is reliable.
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Triflate ion bonding configurations
118
In this section we will attempt to deduce, on the basis of specific spectral triflate features, the bonding configurations of the anions in the m-Ut(750)10Eu(CF3SO3)3 family of xerogels to gain more insight into the general picture of ionic association in these hybrids.
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119
In the 400 ≥ n ≥ 50 composition range, the characteristic νa(SO3) envelope contains three bands located at about 1286, 1275 and 1263 cm–1 (Figs. 3 and 4).
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120
The 1275 cm–1 band is attributed to “free” CF3SO3– ions,8,9 whereas the origin of the two other components is not straightforward.
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121
It is known that a strong interaction between the SO3 group and the cation, such as that involved in a contact ion pair, lifts the double degeneracy of the νa(SO3) mode, thus leading to the appearance of two split bands.
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122
According to the observations of Bernson et al.,20a,b the typical νa(SO3) splitting values for contact ion pairs in polymer electrolytes containing lanthanide triflates range from 95 to 110 cm–1, depending on the type of polymer matrix, type of cation used, and salt concentration.
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123
In the case of solvent-separated ion pairs, in which the strength of cation–anion interaction becomes essentially lower, the magnitude of the splitting was found to be ca. 40 cm–1.20b
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124
In the monourethanesils with 400 ≥ n ≥ 50 the splittings observed are significantly smaller (about 25 cm–1), thus suggesting that the species responsible for this effect can be neither contact ion pairs, nor solvent separated ion pairs.
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125
The fact that the three-component profile is also detected in the spectra of the monourethanesils with extremely low salt content (n = 400 and 200), in which the formation of contact ion pairs is practically impossible, is consistent with our claim.
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126
We propose that the remarkably small νa(SO3) splitting produced by the m-Ut(750)nEu(CF3SO3)3 samples with 400 ≥ n ≥ 50 is a direct consequence of the weakness of the interaction existent between the CF3SO3– and the Eu3+ ions.
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127
We may further speculate that this coordinating situation could involve CF3SO3– species weakly bonded to Eu3+ ions, which simultaneously interact with the carbonyl oxygen atoms of the urethane groups (A).
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128
In addition, the existence of CF3SO3– ions hydrogen-bonded to the N–H groups cannot be excluded (B).
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129
When the salt content reaches n = 30, the behavior of the monourethanesil system suffers marked modifications.
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130
As was shown in Part 1,3 at this particular composition new effects are produced: (1) a fraction of the N–H groups start to be free from hydrogen bonding interaction with the CO groups; (2) the lanthanide ions start to coordinate to the POE chains.
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131
Fig. 4 shows that in the νa(SO3) region of the FT-IR spectrum of m-Ut(750)30Eu(CF3SO3)3, along with the 1284/1262 cm–1 pair and the 1274 cm–1 feature, new split components, which can be recognized as the 1295/1251 and 1317/1213 cm–1 pairs, emerge (Table 1).
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132
Bands at 1295 and 1251 cm–1 were also detected in the spectra of poly(ethylene glycol)/La(CF3SO3)3 electrolytes.20b
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133
These events were ascribed to the split components resulting from the presence of solvent separated ion pairs.
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134
In the monourethane cross-linked hybrids such spectral effect might appear due to the presence of “cross-link separated” ion pairs.
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135
The POE chains probably contribute to the formation of the latter ionic aggregates.
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136
The 1317/1213 cm–1 pair observed in the FT-IR spectrum of the xerogel with n = 30 can be associated with contact ion pairs, since similar bands were seen at approximately the same position in the spectra of POEnEu(CF3SO3)3 electrolytes with n = 16 and .920a
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137
At the highest salt concentration examined here (n = 10), the growth of the bands corresponding to the second and third coordinating environments just described and the reduction of those due to the “free” and weakly coordinated triflate ions are evident.
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Type: Conclusion |
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139
The existence of non-coordinated anions in the materials with 400 ≥ n ≥ 30 is also supported by the location of the νa(CF3) mode which is seen at approximately 1156 cm–1.8
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140
The bands found at 1186, 1178, 1170, 1164 and 1156 cm–1 in the νa(CF3) envelope of the FT-IR spectrum of m-Ut(750)10Eu(CF3SO3)3 (Table 1) confirm that non-bonded anions subsist at this composition and strongly suggest that the anion is involved in four different coordinating environments in this salt-rich xerogel, a result that is in perfect agreement with the conclusions retrieved from the νa(SO3) region.
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141
The presence of “free” anions in the doped monourethanesils (a conclusion drawn from the examination of the νa(SO3), νs(CF3) and νa(CF3) regions) is further confirmed by the appearance of the 1032 cm–1 band, characteristic of the νs(SO3) vibration of the “free” triflate ion (Figs. 1, 2 and 6, Table 1).
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142
The occurrence of two components on both sides of the 1032 cm–1 feature in the spectra of the hybrids with n > 10 (Fig. 6, Table 1) corroborates the results of the νa(SO3) region, which indicated that two anionic bonding environments exist in this salt concentration interval (Figs. 1, 3 and 4, Table 1)
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143
It must be stressed that in the sample with n = 10 the number of νs(SO3) components that represent distinct anionic sites (i.e., three) is in apparent contradiction with the information obtained from the analysis of the νa(SO3) band envelope which indicated the existence of four different anionic configurations.
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144
This effect can, however, be explained on the basis of the conclusions of Petersen et al18b. who showed that the νs(SO3) mode of solvent separated ions appears at 1032 cm–1, typically ascribed to “free” CF3SO3– ions.
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145
Therefore, we are led to suggest that the 1032 cm–1 component discerned in the spectrum of the rich-salt hybrid with n = 10 most probably receives contributions from, not only the “free” anions, as usual, but also from the “cross-link separated” ion pairs.
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146
As it is beyond the scope of the present work to characterize the ionic aggregates responsible for the multicomponent νs(SO3) band profile of the m-Ut(750)-based compounds, we will simply consider that the two shoulders observed in the νs(SO3) region of the samples with 400 ≥ n ≥ 30 are originated from weakly coordinated CF3SO3– ions (Table 1).
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147
The 1042 cm–1 (FT-IR)/1045 cm–1 (Raman) component of m-Ut(750)10Eu(CF3SO3)3 is tentatively attributed to the formation of the crystalline compound (Fig. 6, Table 1).
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148
Considering the complicated behavior of the νs(SO3) vibration, it was proposed that the mode of symmetric CF3 deformation, δs(CF3), is a much more reliable way of identifying differently coordinated CF3SO3– ions.10a–d,f–r
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149
According to Frech et al.,10a–d,f–r although the CF3 end of the anion is not expected to participate directly in the coordination process, cation–anion interactions affect the whole anion.
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150
The δs(CF3) vibration is seen at about 752 cm–1 when the ion is “free”.9
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151
As this mode is non-degenerate, specific bonding geometries result in shifts to higher wavenumbers.
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152
The interpretation of the δs(CF3) envelope of the Eu3+-doped monourethanesils is not straightforward.
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153
The only reference found in the literature regarding the δs(CF3) region of lanthanide triflate electrolytes20b reports the presence of a dominating band centered at 762 cm–1 and a less intense peak at 754 cm–1 in the spectra of La(CF3SO3)3 dissolved in poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether.
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154
The two events were assigned to ion pairs and “free” anions, respectively.20b
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155
In the present case, the complexity of the band contour clearly suggests that the number of underlying components is much greater.
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156
The examination of the δs(CF3) region of the most concentrated monourethanesil allowed us to conclude about the existence of four coordinating sites.
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157
In the case of the less concentrated xerogels, the 2D correlation analysis clearly showed the presence of two coordinating environments.
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158
This finding means that, according to our spectral data, in samples with n = 10 and n > 10 the anionic configurations deduced from the study of the δs(CF3) mode (i.e., four and two, respectively) are identical to those derived from the other triflate regions analyzed above.
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159
In the low-frequency region of the spectra of the m-Ut(750)nEu(CF3SO3)3 composites, unmistakable evidences of the existence of unpaired and coordinated CF3SO3– ions are apparent in the whole range of salt concentration (Table 1).
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160
The new shoulders detected in the spectra of the samples with n = 30 and 10 are tentatively associated with the crystalline complex formed at this composition (Table 1).
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161
It is finally instructive to mention that in the course of this investigation we recorded the FT-IR spectra of the monourethanesils in the temperature range between 20 and 85 °C (data not shown).
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162
The spectra of all the samples were found to be temperature independent, an indication that the existing cation and anion coordinating environments are quite stable.
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Conclusions
163
Monourethane cross-linked poly(oxyethylene)/siloxane hybrids incorporating a wide range of europium triflate, Eu(CF3SO3)3, concentration (∞ ≥ n ≥ 10, where n is the molar ratio of (OCH2CH2) repeat units per Eu3+ ion) were investigated by means of Fourier transform mid-IR and Raman spectroscopies to study the cation–anion interactions.
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164
This spectroscopic analysis relied essentially on the examination of the most informative bands of the triflate ion (in particular, the νa(SO3), νs(SO3) and δs(CF3) modes) at increasing salt concentration.
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165
Two-dimensional correlation spectroscopic analysis was employed in the case of the νs(SO3) and δs(CF3) features that exhibited strong overlapped profiles.
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166
This work showed that in the m-Ut(750)nEu(CF3SO3)3 xerogels with 400 ≥ n ≥ 50 the triflate ions exist only as “free” and weakly coordinated species (O(triflate)⋯Eu3+⋯OC(urethane) and/or O(triflate)⋯H–N(urethane)).
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167
At n = 30, in addition to these coordinating situations, two new ionic configurations appear: contact ion pairs and “cross-link separated” ion pairs.
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168
These two environments are a consequence of the major modification undergone by the system involving the reconfiguration of the POE chains and the destruction of the hydrogen bonds established between N–H groups and carbonyl moieties or POE chains.
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169
In the most concentrated sample analyzed (n = 10) direct cation–anion coordination becomes dominating and the formation of a crystalline polymer/salt complex is observed.
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Experimental
Synthesis
170
See Part 13.
Type: Experiment |
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Fourier transform IR spectroscopy
171
See Part 13.
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Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy
172
See Part 13.
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Two dimensional (2D) correlation spectroscopic analysis
173
In 2D spectroscopy, the variations in the spectra produced by an external sample perturbation are mathematically cross-correlated to construct a 2D correlation map, which allows to discriminate those vibration modes which selectively respond to the perturbation.
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174
Two kinds of 2D spectra, defined by two independent wavenumbers (ν1, ν2), are generated by cross-correlation analysis of dynamic fluctuations of spectral signals induced by an external perturbation: the synchronous and asynchronous spectra.22
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175
While the synchronous 2D correlation spectrum represents the simultaneous (or coincidental) changes of spectral intensities measured at ν1 and ν2 within the interval between Tmin and Tmax of the externally defined variable t, the asynchronous one represents sequential (or successive) changes of spectral intensities measured at ν1 and ν2.
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176
In the present work 2D correlation spectroscopic analysis was carried out using the following procedure.
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177
First, the reference spectrum was subtracted from each of the experimental spectra in order to obtain the dynamic spectra (mean-centered procedure.22)
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178
For practical reasons, in our calculations the average spectrum was used as a reference.
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179
The resulting mean-centered dynamic spectra y(ν,t) represent the relative variations of spectral intensity at each wavenumber ν as a function of the lanthanide salt concentration t.
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180
We then calculated, for the set of dynamic spectra, the complex correlation function 〈y(ν1,t),y(ν2,t′)〉 = Φ(ν1,ν2) + iΨ(ν1,ν2) using the Hilbert transform algorithm developed by Noda.22
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181
The real and imaginary parts of this function correspond to the synchronous Φ(ν1,ν2) and asynchronous Ψ(ν1,ν2) 2D correlation maps of the dynamic spectra, respectively.
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182
The synchronous 2D correlation intensities were defined by the equation and the asynchronous 2D spectra were determined using the expression where the Hjk is a Hilbert transformation matrix.22
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183
Here ν represents the IR or Raman wavenumber and n is the total number of dynamic spectra.
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184
All the calculations were performed with the Matlab 6.0 software (The MathWorks Inc)..
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ConceptID: Exp2