Abstract
The nanoscale properties of organically modified sol−gel-derived silicate thin films are studied in detail by single-molecule spectroscopic methods. For these studies, the solvent-sensitive probe Nile Red is doped into the films at nanomolar concentrations. Spectroscopic data are obtained for films prepared from sols containing different mole fractions of isobutyltrimethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane. The data are analyzed using a model based on Marcus theory, providing important new information on static local film properties such as polarity and the extent of specific dopant−matrix interactions. Data on dynamic phenomena related to local matrix rigidity is also obtained. In general, throughout the range of samples studied, the most polar environments are also found to be the most rigid. With regard to their static properties, broad heterogeneous distributions are found in films of predominantly inorganic composition. In several instances, bimodal distributions are also observed, which result from speci...
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