Vibrational spectroscopic studies of triethoxy(4-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl) silane and its sol-gel coating

We have prepared a silica sol-gel using triethoxy (4-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl) silane (TETFMPS) as a precursor in ethanol solution under acidic condition. The prepared sol-gel was applied to the surface treatment of aluminum for corrosion prevention. Infrared and Raman spectra of the silane coupling agent, sol-gel and sol-gel films on metal have been collected. Infrared spectroscopy has been used to study the thermal effect on the chemical composition of xerogel. Results suggested that TETFMPS molecule has a C(s) point group symmetry with the plane of reflection orthogonal to the phenyl ring and the organic part of the sol-gel film remains essentially unchanged at or below 450 °C but decomposes at or above 550 °C. After the decomposition of the organic branch, the remaining film is composed of silica. Vibrational assignments were suggested by using the collected spectroscopic data in different states along with the group vibrational frequencies and other related references.