Hybrid mesoporous materials: using molecular and supramolecular tools to create new nanoscale architectures.

G.J. A. A. SOLER ILLIA

Conferencia; XXI Simposio Nacional de Química Orgánica; 2017

The creation of highly controlled nanosystems with well-defined properties in controlled spatial locations is one of the major challenges of current materials chemistry. In the last two decades, an impressive advance has taken place in the creation of complex materials with hierarchical architectures at different length scales that mimic the complexity of those found in Nature. Mesoporous materials with high surface area and highly controlled mesopore diameter (2-50 nm) are a striking example of this approach. The combination of sol?gel synthesis, surfactant self-assembly, surface chemistry and confinement reactions lead to achieve highly controlled porous architectures ?decorated? with organic, biological or nanoscale functions. The properties of these nanosystems are highly tunable, leading to a ??nanofacility??, in which positional chemistry can be achieved from the molecular to the mesoscale level.1In this presentation, we will exemplify the richness of this field in the particular case of Mesoporous Thin Films (MTF). These advanced materials are interesting for the possibility of tailoring optical, electronic or catalytic properties, and the compatibility with the electronics and optics industries. Production of MTF relies in the accurate combination of several synthetic tools from inorganic and organic synthetic pathways. Mesopores provide monodisperse cavities that can be modified by adding organic functional groups, biomolecules or polymers, leading to hybrid MTF with an amazing variety of chemical behaviors, which include responsivity to temperature, pH or the presence of molecules.2,3In order to achieve a high degree of MTF tuning, a thorough control of reactivity is necessary. The combination of sol-gel and soft matter chemistry, the adequate use of local, colloidal and surface interactions, as well as confinement effects4 permits to achieve a variety of complex nanosystems with novel chemical and physical properties.