Mesoporous Hybrid and Nanocomposite Thin Films. A Sol-Gel Toolbox to Create Nanoconfined Systems with Localized Chemical Properties

SOLER-ILLIA, GJAA; ANGELOME, P; FUERTES, MC; CALVO, A; WOLOSIUK, A; ZELCER, A; BELLINO, M; MARTINEZ, ED

JOURNAL OF SOL-GEL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Springer

Lugar: USA; Año: 2011 vol. 57 p. 299 - 312

0928-0707

Mesoporous Thin Films (MPTF) can be created by combining sol-gel synthesis, template self-assembly and surface modification. A wide palette of inorganic (oxides, phosphates, carbon-based, etc.) and hybrid organic-inorganic networks with a variety of frameworks, pore sizes, and organic or biological functions located in the inorganic framework or pore surface can be obtained. These MPTF with interesting electrical and optical properties are indeed a ?nanofacility?. The properties of the functional pore systems are tuned by the pore size and geometry, wall composition and surface features. Well-defined monodisperse sized pores also act as nanoreactors, or nanocavities with controlled environment and behaviour. We have explored the production of accessible oxide, phosphate or hybrid MPTF, in which either the pore surface or interior can be modified by organic functional groups or nanoparticles. Each highly controlled MHTF originated from a reproducible and modular synthesis is in itself a building block for more complex structures, presenting order at larger scales, and novel properties derived from size control at different length scales. Selected examples of optical and chemical behaviour of these multiscale materials will be presented.