The purpose of this diploma work was to determine the mass fraction of cresol dye in the pores of mesoporous SiO2. The mentioned material is synthesized and studied for the purpose of using pH indicator dyes. The colour of the dye bound in the mesoporous matrix depends on the pH value of the surface. In non-functionalized SiO2, the dye is bound to the SiO2 matrix in a once-deprotonated form (HL–) and is orange in colour. Functionalization with aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS), which binds covalently to the SiO2 surface, raises the pH value of the surface and the dye binds to it in a deprotonated form (L2–). Upon a certain external impulse, the dye is released from the surface into the solution, and the colour of the dye in the solution depends on the pH of the medium. The amount of bound dye is important for the sensitivity of the sensor material, so it is important to be able to determine it.
In non-functionalized samples, where the dye is in the matrix of mesoporous SiO2, the amount of dye can be easily determined by thermogravimetry. However, we encounter a problem with the functionalized ones, since both cresol and APTMS thermally decompose in the same temperature range, and therefore it is not possible to determine the content of an individual component from the overall mass loss. However, since the characteristic SO2 gas is released during the thermal decomposition of cresol, we can determine the cresol content using the coupled method of thermal analysis with mass spectrometry (TG-MS). We prepared a calibration curve from which we could determine the mass of cresol in the functionalized samples and consequently its mass fraction. The method was validated on samples where there was only dye in the pores (non-functionalized samples), as we could determine its content using thermogravimetry.
Based on the obtained results, I conclude that the coupled method is suitable for determining the mass fraction of the dye in functionalized samples. It was found out that the mass fraction of cresol in the functionalized samples is smaller than in the non-functionalized ones, and the difference increases with the increasing mass fraction of the cresol dye.
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