Sol-Gel Based Matrix

A sol-gel matrix comprising:

• a first polymer component prepared from polymerization of a first alkoxysilane of the general formula R1—Si(OR2)3;
• a second sol-gel component comprising a Lewis acid and a second polymer component prepared from Lewis acid catalyzed polymerization of a second alkoxysilane of the general formula
• wherein
• R1 represents a straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl or C2-C6 alkenyl, a C3-C6 cycloalkyl, a C1-C6 aminoalkyl, a C1-C6 hydroxyalkyl, a C1-C6 cyanoalkyl, a phenyl, a group of the formula —Y—(X—Y)nH, with Y being independently selected from the group consisting of straight or branched C1-C6 alkylene, X being a hetero atom or group selected from the group consisting of O, S, NH, and n being an integer of 1-5, or R1 represents a C1-C6 alkyl substituted with a group Z, with Z being independently selected form the group consisting of hydrogen, cyano, halogen, hydroxy, nitro, amide C1-C24-alkyl, C1-C24-haloalkyl, C2-C24-alkenyl, C2-C24-alkynyl, aryl, C1-C24-alkoxy, C1-C24-alkylsulfonyl, amino, aminocarbonyl, aminothiocarbonyl, aminocarbonylamino, aminothiocarbonylamino, aminocarbonyloxy, aminosulfonyl, aminosulfonyloxy, aminosulfonylamino, amidino, carboxyl, carboxyl ester comprising a C1-C6 alkyl alcohol moiety, (carboxyl ester)amino comprising a C1-C6 alkyl alcohol moiety, (carboxyl ester)oxy comprising a C1-C6 alkyl alcohol moiety, sulfonyl, sulfonyloxy, thiol, thiocarbonyl, C1-C24-alkylthio, 5 or 6 membered heteroaryl, or a C3-C7 cycloalkyl;
• R2 independently represents a straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl;
• and
• R3 represents a linker selected from a group of the formula —R4—(X—R4)0-12—, wherein R4 is independently selected from straight or branched C2-C6 alkylene, C2-C24-haloalkylene, and X is a hetero atom or group selected from the group consisting of O, S, NH.