Photochromic properties of a silylated spirooxazine in sol-gel coatings

Abstract

For the first time a silylated spirooxazine was introduced into organically modified ceramics (Ormocer) coatings by the sol-gel method and its photochromic properties are studied and compared with the free (non-silylated) spirooxazine. The results reveal that the silylation has little influence on the spectroscopic properties and the photochromic intensity of the silylated dye in Ormocer coatings is at the same level as that of the free dye, though the decolouration rate of the dye is reduced by the silylation and the decolouration exhibits a significant deviation from first-order kinetics which the free dye obeys. This is due to the dye-to-matrix connectivity.