E' paramagnetic centers in nanoporous synthetic opals - a probe for near surface protons

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that radiation-induced paramagnetic centers in synthetic nanoporous silica opals can serve as sensitive probes for studying surface modifications and polymerization reactions within confined nanopores.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of EPR and ENDOR techniques to use paramagnetic centers as probes for surface and reaction analysis in nanoporous materials.

Findings

Paramagnetic centers can be induced by radiation in synthetic nanoporous silica.

These centers are sensitive to surface modifications and polymerization reactions.

The methods enable detailed investigation of confined chemical processes.

Abstract

The studies of chemical processes in spatially confined conditions are of interest from the fundamental and industrial points of view. By means of the W band EPR and 1H Mims electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) we show that the radiation-induced paramagnetic centers (E') in the synthetic nanoporous silica opals could be used as sensitive probes to investigate the surface modification and, potentially, reactions of polymerization in the confined by opal pores.