文摘
The use of steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to probe the internalmicroenvironment of sol-gel-derived organic-inorganic nanocomposites formed from alkoxysilane precursors is reviewed. The review focuses on the use of small organic probes andfluorescent biomolecules that provide information on pore-solvent composition and polarity,internal solvent and dopant dynamics, environmental heterogeneity and phase segregation,and surface chemistry, as determined by molecule-matrix interactions. Emphasis is placedon advanced fluorescence methods that can provide unique information on sol-gel-derivedcomposite materials. The discussion begins with a description of the different fluorescentprobes that have been used to study sol-gel materials. The application of fluorescencemethods to examine Class I and Class II hybrid materials is then described, highlightingthe specific information available from different probes and the methods used to obtaininformation on the structure and dynamics of such materials. This section highlights theoverall effects of dispersed and bound organic dopants on the polarity, dynamics, heterogeneity, and surface chemistry of nanocomposites. Finally, fluorescence studies on emergingmaterials, including templated nanocomposites and biomaterials, are described, and theoverall utility of fluorescence spectroscopy for probing of such materials is discussed.