Hybrid Materials from Poly(vinyl chloride) and Organogels

The making of hybrid materials from polymers and self-assembled systems may open up new horizons for imparting new properties to usual polymers without recourse to chemistry. Here it is again shown that preparation of such materials can be straightforwardly achieved by a physical sol–gel process with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), an extensively used polymer, and an oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) organogelator (OPVOH), a molecule that forms organogels displaying optoelectronic properties (change of color at the sol–gel transition). Low amounts of OPV with respect to PVC are used (ratio ～1/10 to ～1/30). Although the PVC structures form first, the thermodynamics of the OPVOH gelation is virtually not altered (same formation temperatures and same melting temperatures). It is observed that the organogel does pervade the polymer structures, which results in a noticeable strengthening of the mechanical properties. Thanks to the OPVOH optoelectronic properties, one may prepare, after appropriate solvent extraction, a hybrid, porous material that may be used as a sensor for detecting in air or in water undesired molecules by alteration of the OPVOH scaffold