Mesoporous Hybrid Thin Films: The Physics and Chemistry Beneath

Ordered Mesoporous Electrodes for Sensing Applications

Electrochemical sensors have become increasingly relevant in fields such as medicine, environmental monitoring, and industrial process control. Selectivity, specificity, sensitivity, signal reproducibility, and robustness are among the most important challenges for their development, especially when the target compound is present in low concentrations or in complex analytical matrices. In this context, electrode modification with Mesoporous Thin Films (MTFs) has aroused great interest in the past years. MTFs present high surface area, uniform pore distribution, and tunable pore size. Furthermore, they offer a wide variety of electrochemical signal modulation possibilities through molecular sieving, electrostatic or steric exclusion, and preconcentration effects which are due to mesopore confinement and surface functionalization. In order to fully exploit these advantages, it is central to develop reproducible routes for sensitive, selective, and robust MTF-modified electrodes. In addition, it is necessary to understand the complex mass and charge transport processes that take place through the film (particularly in the mesopores, pore surfaces, and interfaces) and on the electrode in order to design future intelligent and adaptive sensors. We present here an overview of MTFs applied to electrochemical sensing, in which we address their fabrication methods and the transport processes that are critical to the electrode response. We also summarize the current applications in biosensing and electroanalysis, as well as the challenges and opportunities brought by integrating MTF synthesis with electrode microfabrication, which is critical when moving from laboratory work to in situ sensing in the field of interest.

Nanoscale pores introduced into paper via mesoporous silica coatings using sol-gel chemistry

Mesopores, with diameters between 2 and 50 nm, not only increase the specific surface area, but also generate hierarchically porous materials with specific properties such as capillary fluid transport, ion specific pore accessibility, or size exclusion. Paper is a strongly hierarchical, porous material with specific properties, such as capillary force-driven fluid transport. However, paper fibers change their morphology during the initial step of wood disintegration. This results in changes of the porous fiber structure. In particular paper fibers loose their mesopores during the final drying step in the fabrication process. Here, we investigate silica mesopore formation in paper by sol-gel chemistry and evaporation induced self-assembly to specifically introduce and rationally design mesopore formation and distribution in cotton linter and eucalyptus sulfate paper sheets. We demonstrate the importance of synchronizing the solvent evaporation rate and capillary fluid velocity to ensure mesopore formation as well as the influence of the fiber type and sol-gel solution composition. The combination of argon and krypton sorption, SAXS, TEM and CLSM provides systematic analysis of the porous structure and the silica distribution along the cellulose paper fiber length and cross-section. These results provide a deeper understanding of mesopore formation in paper and how the latter is influenced by paper fluidic properties.

Probing gigahertz coherent acoustic phonons in TiO2 mesoporous thin films

Ultrahigh-frequency acoustic-phonon resonators usually require atomically flat interfaces to avoid phonon scattering and dephasing, leading to expensive fabrication processes, such as molecular beam epitaxy. Mesoporous thin films are based on inexpensive wet chemical fabrication techniques that lead to relatively flat interfaces regardless the presence of nanopores. Here, we report mesoporous titanium dioxide-based acoustic resonators with resonances up to 90 GHz, and quality factors from 3 to 7. Numerical simulations show a good agreement with the picosecond ultrasonics experiments. We also numerically study the effect of changes in the speed of sound on the performance of the resonator. This change could be induced by liquid infiltration into the mesopores. Our findings constitute the first step towards the engineering of building blocks based on mesoporous thin films for reconfigurable optoacoustic sensors.

Mesoporous ordered films via self-assembly: trends and perspectives

The synthesis of ordered mesoporous films via self-assembly represents one of the main accomplishments in nanoscience. In fact, controlling the complex chemical-physical phenomena that govern the process triggered by the solvent's fast evaporation during film deposition has represented a challenging task. Several years after the first articles on the subject, the research in the field entered a new stage. New advanced applications based on the peculiar properties of mesoporous films are envisaged while basic research is still going on, especially to clarify the mechanism behind self-organization in a spatially defined environment and the physics and chemistry in mesoscale porosity. This review has been dedicated to analysing the main trends in the fields and the perspective for future developments.

Functionalized Mesoporous Thin Films for Biotechnology

Mesoporous materials bear great potential for biotechnological applications due to their biocompatibility and versatility. Their high surface area and pore interconnection allow the immobilization of molecules and their subsequent controlled delivery. Modifications of the mesoporous material with the addition of different chemical species, make them particularly suitable for the production of bioactive coatings. Functionalized thin films of mesoporous silica and titania can be used as scaffolds with properties as diverse as promotion of cell growth, inhibition of biofilms formation, or development of sensors based on immobilized enzymes. The possibility to pattern them increase their appeal as they can be incorporated into devices and can be tailored both with respect to architecture and functionalization. In fact, selective surface manipulation is the ground for the fabrication of advanced micro devices that combine standard micro/nanofluids with functional materials. In this review, we will present the advantages of the functionalization of silica and titania mesoporous materials deposited in thin film. Different functional groups used to modify their properties will be summarized, as well as functionalization methods and some examples of applications of modified materials, thus giving an overview of the essential role of functionalization to improve the performance of such innovative materials.

Size Effect of Hydroxide Nanobuilding Blocks and Nonionic Block Copolymer Templates on the Formation of Ordered Mesoporous Structures

The use of precrystallized nanoparticles as nanobuilding blocks (NBBs) is a promising way to obtain mesoporous materials with crystalline walls. In this study, the size effects of both hydroxide NBBs and nonionic block copolymer (BCP) templates on the formation of ordered mesostructures are investigated. The diameter of layered nickel hydroxide NBBs was controlled at the sub-2 nm scale by an epoxide-mediated alkalinization process. Commercially available nonionic BCPs (gyration radii in the range of 11.9-43.9 Å) were used. Mesoperiodic structures were formed by the evaporation-induced self-assembly process. A proper size combination of hydroxide NBBs, smaller than 12.5 Å, and BCPs, larger than 19.9 Å, is shown to be necessary to form ordered mesostructures.

A one-step method for covalent bond immobilization of biomolecules on silica operated in aqueous solution

A simple, one-step method for covalent bond immobilization of biomolecules on silica operated in water is described. In the approach, an NHS-ester linked methallylsilane is utilized as a bifunctional linker to couple the biomolecule to the silica surface. Weak organic acid such as acetic acid activates the silica surface enough to react with bifunctional linker without destroying activity of biomolecule.

Supramolecular Organization in Confined Nanospaces

Empty spaces are abhorred by nature, which immediately rushes in to fill the void. Humans have learnt pretty well how to make ordered empty nanocontainers, and to get useful products out of them. When such an order is imparted to molecules, new properties may appear, often yielding advanced applications. This review illustrates how the organized void space inherently present in various materials: zeolites, clathrates, mesoporous silica/organosilica, and metal organic frameworks (MOF), for example, can be exploited to create confined, organized, and self-assembled supramolecular structures of low dimensionality. Features of the confining matrices relevant to organization are presented with special focus on molecular-level aspects. Selected examples of confined supramolecular assemblies - from small molecules to quantum dots or luminescent species - are aimed to show the complexity and potential of this approach. Natural confinement (minerals) and hyperconfinement (high pressure) provide further opportunities to understand and master the atomistic-level interactions governing supramolecular organization under nanospace restrictions.

Sol-Gel Chemistry for Carbon Dots

Carbon dots are an emerging class of carbon-based nanostructures produced by low-cost raw materials which exhibit a widely-tunable photoluminescence and a high quantum yield. The potential of these nanomaterials as a substitute of semiconductor quantum dots in optoelectronics and biomedicine is very high, however they need a customized chemistry to be integrated in host-guest systems or functionalized in core-shell structures. This review is focused on recent advances of the sol-gel chemistry applied to the C-dots technology. The surface modification, the fine tailoring of the chemical composition and the embedding into a complex nanostructured material are the main targets of combining sol-gel processing with C-dots chemistry. In addition, the synergistic effect of the sol-gel precursor combined with the C-dots contribute to modify the intrinsic chemo-physical properties of the dots, empowering the emission efficiency or enabling the tuning of the photoluminescence over a wide range of the visible spectrum.

A new device for high-temperature in situ GISAXS measurements

A heating stage originally designed for diffraction experiments is implemented into a Bruker NANOSTAR instrument for in situ grazing incidence small-angle x-ray scattering experiments. A controlled atmosphere is provided by a dome separating the sample environment from the evacuated scattering instrument. This dome is double shelled in order to enable cooling water to flow through it. A mesoporous silica film templated by a self-assembled block copolymer system is investigated in situ during step-wise heating in air. The GISAXS pattern shows the structural development of the ordered lattice of parallel cylindrical pores. The deformation of the elliptical pore-cross section perpendicular to the film surface was studied with increasing temperature. Moreover, the performance of the setup was tested by controlled in situ heating of a copper surface under controlled oxygen containing atmosphere.

Novel Highly Luminescent Amine-Functionalized Bridged Silsesquioxanes

Amine-functionalized bridged silsesquioxanes (BSs) were synthesized from bis[(3-trimethoxysilyl)propyl] amine via a solvent-mediated route. BS-1 and BS-2 were obtained at neutral pH with sub- and stoichiometric amounts of water, respectively, and high tetrahydrofuran content. BS-3 was prepared with hyperstoichiometric water concentration, high tetrahydrofuran content, and hydrochloric acid. BS-4 was synthesized with hyperstoichiometric water concentration, high ethanol content, and sodium hydroxide. BS-1 and BS-2 were produced as transparent films, whereas BS-3 and BS-4 formed white powders. Face-to-face stacking of flat or folded lamellae yielded quasi-hydrophobic platelets with emission quantum yields of 0.05 ± 0.01 (BS-1 and BS-2) or superhydrophilic onion-like nanoparticles with exciting emission quantum yields of 0.38 ± 0.03 (BS-3) and 0.33 ± 0.04 (BS-4), respectively. The latter two values are the largest ever reported for amine-functionalized siloxane-based hybrids lacking aromatic groups. Fast Grotthus proton hopping between = NH2+/ = NH groups (BS-3) and = N⁻/ = NH groups (BS-4), promoted by H⁺ and OH⁻ ions, respectively, and aided by short amine-amine contacts provided by the onion-like morphology, account for this unique optical behavior.

One-Step Synthesis of Mesoporous Silica Thin Films Containing Available COOH Groups

Inorganic-organic hybrid mesoporous silica thin films with covalently bonded carboxylic acid groups were synthesized in a one-step procedure, using carboxylic-derivatized alkoxysilanes obtained by photochemical radical thiol-ene addition (PRTEA). The organosilanes were synthesized by clicking mercaptosuccinic or mercaptoacetic thioacids with vinyltrimethoxysilane, using benzophenone as the photoradical initiator. The films were synthesized by evaporation-induced self-assembly of a sol containing a mixture of tetraethoxysilane and different quantities of the organosilanes, without any further treatment after the PRTEA reaction. Two nonionic surfactants were used as templates to produce different pore sizes. Different aging times were also applied. Structural characterization with electron microscopy, porosimetry measurements, and small angle X-ray scattering with two-dimensional detection demonstrated the obtention of mesoporous phases whose degree of ordering depended on the amount of added organosilane. The incorporation of the functional silanes was shown by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the presence of the COOH groups was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Finally, the availability of the COOH groups for further chemical modification was demonstrated by FTIR by following the changes in the typical carbonyl IR bands during proton exchange and metal complexation. The proposed simple methodology allows obtaining COOH-modified silica thin films in one step, without the need of hard reaction conditions or deprotection steps. Functionalization with carboxyl groups brings a pH-dependent switch-ability to the pore surface that can be used for multifunctional mesoporous materials design.

Adsorption and Biodegradation of Aromatic Chemicals by Bacteria Encapsulated in a Hydrophobic Silica Gel

An adsorbent silica biogel material was developed via silica gel encapsulation of Pseudomonas sp. NCIB 9816-4, a bacterium that degrades a broad spectrum of aromatic pollutants. The adsorbent matrix was synthesized using silica precursors methyltrimethoxysilane and tetramethoxysilane to maximize the adsorption capacity of the matrix while maintaining a highly networked and porous microstructure. The encapsulated bacteria enhanced the removal rate and capacity of the matrix for an aromatic chemical mixture. Repeated use of the material over four cycles was conducted to demonstrate that the removal capacity could be maintained with combined adsorption and biodegradation. The silica biogel can thus be used extensively without the need for disposal, as a result of continuous biodegradation by the encapsulated bacteria. However, an inverse trend was observed with the ratio of biodegradation to adsorption as a function of log K_ow, suggesting increasing mass-transport limitation for the most hydrophobic chemicals used (log K_ow > 4).

Formation of ordered mesostructured TiO2 thin films: a soft coarse-grained simulation study

Variation of the dispersity index D as water and HCl evaporate distinctly. Right panels show the snapshots of formed mesopores.

Selective SERS Sensing Modulated by Functionalized Mesoporous Films

A hybrid material comprising metal nanoparticles embedded in functionalized mesoporous thin films was constructed, and its use as a selective SERS-based sensor was demonstrated. The presence of specific functional groups in the pore network allows control over the surface chemistry of the pores, tuning the selectivity for specific molecules. Amino-functionalized hybrid mesoporous thin films were used in a proof of concept experiment, to discern the presence of methylene blue (MB) in mixtures with acid blue (AB), with no need for any sample pretreatment step. Selective detection of MB was possible through entrapment of AB in the mesoporous matrix, based on its high affinity for amino groups. The sensor selectivity can be tuned by varying the solution pH, rendering a pH responsive surface and thus, selective SERS-based sensing. The developed sensors allow specific detection of molecules in complex matrixes.

Full solution processed mesostructured optical resonators integrating colloidal semiconductor quantum dots

Herein we show a solution based synthetic pathway to obtain a resonant optical cavity with embedded colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (CSQDs). The optical cavity pore network, surrounded by two dense Bragg mirrors, was designed ad hoc to selectively host the quantum dots, while uncontrolled infiltration of those in the rest of the layered structure was prevented. Coupling between the optical resonant modes of the host and the natural emission of the embedded nanoparticles gives rise to the fine tuning of the luminescence spectrum extracted from the ensemble. Our approach overcomes, without the need for an encapsulating agent and exclusively by solution processing, the difficulties that arise from the low thermal and chemical stability of the CSQDs. It opens the route to achieving precise control over their location and hence over the spectral properties of light emitted by these widely employed nanomaterials. Furthermore, as the porosity of the cavity is preserved after infiltration, the system remains responsive to environmental changes, which provides an added value to the proposed structure.

A method for introducing organic functional groups on silica surfaces using a functionalized vinylsilane containing polymer

A new method for introducing robustly bound organic functional groups on the silica surface using a vinylsilane-containing polymer is developed.

A one-step co-condensation method for the synthesis of well-defined functionalized mesoporous SBA-15 using trimethallylsilanes as organosilane sources

Well-defined functionalized mesoporous SBA-15s are synthesized by a one-step co-condensation method using functional group-impregnated trimethallylsilanes.

Gated supramolecular chemistry in hybrid mesoporous silica nanoarchitectures: controlled delivery and molecular transport in response to chemical, physical and biological stimuli

This Feature Article discusses recent advances in the design of mesoporous silica nanoarchitectures that can control mass transport on command through the combination of flexible supramolecular routes.

Getting order in mesostructured thin films, from pore organization to crystalline walls, the case of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane

A new type of hybrid organic–inorganic film showing long-range ordered mesostructure and crystalline pore walls has been successfully prepared.

Mesoscopically structured nanocrystalline metal oxide thin films

This review describes the main successful strategies that are used to grow mesostructured nanocrystalline metal oxide and SiO₂ films via deposition of sol-gel derived solutions. In addition to the typical physicochemical forces to be considered during crystallization, mesoporous thin films are also affected by the substrate-film relationship and the mesostructure. The substrate can influence the crystallization temperature and the obtained crystallographic orientation due to the interfacial energies and the lattice mismatch. The mesostructure can influence the crystallite orientation, and affects nucleation and growth behavior due to the wall thickness and pore curvature. Three main methods are presented and discussed: templated mesoporosity followed by thermally induced crystallization, mesostructuration of already crystallized metal oxide nanobuilding units and substrate-directed crystallization with an emphasis on very recent results concerning epitaxially grown piezoelectric structured α-quartz films via crystallization of amorphous structured SiO₂ thin films.

Versatility of Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly (EISA) Method for Preparation of Mesoporous TiO₂ for Energy and Environmental Applications

Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly (EISA) method for the preparation of mesoporous titanium dioxide materials is reviewed. The versatility of EISA method for the rapid and facile synthesis of TiO₂ thin films and powders is highlighted. Non-ionic surfactants such as Pluronic P123, F127 and cationic surfactants such as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide have been extensively employed for the preparation of mesoporous TiO₂. In particular, EISA method allows for fabrication of highly uniform, robust, crack-free films with controllable thickness. Eleven characterization techniques for elucidating the structure of the EISA prepared mesoporous TiO₂ are discussed in this paper. These many characterization methods provide a holistic picture of the structure of mesoporous TiO₂. Mesoporous titanium dioxide materials have been employed in several applications that include Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs), photocatalytic degradation of organics and splitting of water, and batteries.

Controlling polymerization initiator concentration in mesoporous silica thin films

We present a strategy toward controlled polymer density in mesopores by specifically adjusting the local amount of polymerization initiator at the pore wall. The polymerization initiator concentration as well as the polymer functionalization has a direct impact on mesoporous membrane properties such as ionic permselectivity. Mesoporous silica-based thin films were prepared with specifically adjusted amount of polymerization initiator (4-(3-triethoxysilyl)propoxybenzophenone (BPSilane)) or initiator binding functions ((3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES)), directly and homogeneously incorporated into the silica wall pursuing a sol-gel-based co-condensation approach. The amount of polymerization initiator was adjusted by varying its concentration in the sol-gel precursor solution. The surface chemistry, porosity, pore accessibility, and reactivity of the surface functional groups were investigated by using infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray reflectometry, ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. We could gradually modify the amount of reactive polymerization initiators in these mesoporous membranes. Mesopores were maintained for APTES containing films for all tested ratios up to 25 mol % and for BPSilane containing films up to 15 mol %. These films showed accessible and charge-dependent ionic permselectivity and an increasing degree of functionalization with increasing precursor ratio. This approach can directly result in control of polymer grafting density in mesoporous films and thus has a direct impact on applications such as the control of ionic transport through mesoporous silica membranes.

Block copolymer self-assembly in mesostructured silica films revealed by real-time FTIR and solid-state NMR

Over the past ten years, understanding the self-assembly process within mesostructured silica films has been a major concern. Our characterization approach relies on two powerful and complementary techniques: in situ time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy and ex situ solid-state NMR. As model systems, three silica/surfactant films displaying various degrees of mesostructuration were synthesized using an amphiphilic block copolymer (PEO-b-PPO-b-PEO) via a UV light induced self-assembly process. The key idea is that the hydration state of the hydrophobic PPO chain is expected to be different depending upon whether the sample is amorphous (blend) or mesostructured (segregated). With real-time FTIR experiments, we show that the methyl deformation mode can act as a signature for the PPO microenvironment so as to trace the progressive copolymer self-association throughout the irradiation time. In (1)H solid-state NMR, the dependence of the (1)H chemical shift on the PPO hydration state has been exploited to evidence the extent of mesostructuration.

Novel sol-gel precursors for thin mesoporous eu(3+)-doped silica coatings as efficient luminescent materials

Europium(III) ions containing mesoporous silica coatings have been prepared via a solvent evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) approach of different single-source precursors (SSPs) in the presence of Pluronic P123 as a structure-directing agent, using the spin-coating process. A deliberate tailoring of the chemical composition of the porous coatings with various Si:Eu ratios was achieved by processing mixtures of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and Eu(3+)-coordinated SSPs. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses demonstrate that the thin metal oxide-doped silica coatings consist of a porous network with a short-range order of the pore structure, even at high europium(III) loadings. Furthermore, luminescence properties were investigated at different temperatures and different degrees of Eu(3+) contents. The photoluminescence spectra clearly show characteristic emission peaks corresponding to the (5)D0 → (7)FJ (J = 0-5) transitions resulting in a red luminescence visible by the eyes, although the films have a very low thickness (150-200 nm).

Aminopropyl-modified mesoporous silica SBA-15 as recovery agents of Cu(II)-sulfate solutions: Adsorption efficiency, functional stability and reusability aspects

Hybrid mesoporous materials are potentially useful for metal ion scavenging and retrieval because of their high surface areas, controlled accessibility and tailored functionalization. Some aspects that are linked to the performance of HMM include pore accessibility, stability of the organic functions and reusability. Knowledge of these aspects is critical in the design of adsorption-desorption protocols. In this work we produce and characterize propylamino-substituted large pore silica (SBA-15-N), which is submitted to Cu(II) adsorption from copper sulfate solutions, followed by desorption in acid media and material regeneration. We find that the hybrid material is an efficient adsorbent (1.15-1.75mmol Cu(II)g(-1)), although a fraction of the organic groups is lost during the adsorption process. An X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study demonstrates that the contents of amino groups are higher in the material surface, leading to different behaviors in Cu(II) complexation along the material. These materials can be regenerated by exposure to acidic media. Thermal processing of the hybrid materials leads to better durability in aqueous solutions during reprocessing, due to enhanced polycondensation of the inorganic framework. Thermally treated samples, once regenerated, are efficient adsorbents in a second step of Cu(II) adsorption. We discuss the materials processing factors involved in the improved adsorption of Cu(II), its quantitative release and reusability of the material.

DYE IMMOBILIZED MESOPOROUS SILICA THIN FILM AS OPTICAL pH SENSOR

An optical sensor for measurement of pH was prepared by the deposition of tailored mesoporous silica films on glass slide substrate. The films were prepared by using tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silica precursor in presence of ethanol (EtOH) as co-solvent. The sol was mixed with bromocresol green indicator and judiciously aged which was then spin casted on pre-cleaned glass slides to form thin films. These films were characterized by instrumental techniques like Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The chemical sensing properties of the film was determined spectroscopically for optical pH response. The results demonstrated that the developed optical sensor responds well in the pH range of 3–12. The sensor performance was validated by measurement of pH of water samples from different sources and compared against values obtained by conventional glass electrode pH meter. The comparative results were observed to be under 5% tolerance limit.

Critical aspects in the production of periodically ordered mesoporous titania thin films

Periodically ordered mesoporous titania thin films (MTTF) present a high surface area, controlled porosity in the 2-20 nm pore diameter range and an amorphous or crystalline inorganic framework. These materials are nowadays routinely prepared by combining soft chemistry and supramolecular templating. Photocatalytic transparent coatings and titania-based solar cells are the immediate promising applications. However, a wealth of new prospective uses have emerged on the horizon, such as advanced catalysts, perm-selective membranes, optical materials based on plasmonics and photonics, metamaterials, biomaterials or new magnetic nanocomposites. Current and novel applications rely on the ultimate control of the materials features such as pore size and geometry, surface functionality and wall structure. Even if a certain control of these characteristics has been provided by the methods reported so far, the needs for the next generation of MTTF require a deeper insight in the physical and chemical processes taking place in their preparation and processing. This article presents a critical discussion of these aspects. This discussion is essential to evolve from know-how to sound knowledge, aiming at a rational materials design of these fascinating systems.

Proton and calcium-gated ionic mesochannels: phosphate-bearing polymer brushes hosted in mesoporous thin films as biomimetic interfacial architectures

Rational construction of interfaces based on multicomponent responsive systems in which molecular transport is mediated by structures of nanoscale dimensions has become a very fertile research area in biomimetic supramolecular chemistry. Herein, we describe the creation of hybrid mesostructured interfaces with reversible gate-like transport properties that can be controlled by chemical inputs, such as protons or calcium ions. This was accomplished by taking advantage of the surface-initiated polymerization of 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphate (MEP) monomer units into and onto mesoporous silica thin films. In this way, phosphate-bearing polymer brushes were used as "gatekeepers" located not only on the outer surface of mesoporous thin films but also in the inner environment of the porous scaffold. Pore-confined PMEP brushes respond to the external triggering chemical signals not only by altering their physicochemical properties but also by switching the transport properties of the mesoporous film. The ion-gate response/operation was based on the protonation and/or chelation of phosphate monomer units in which the polymer brush works as an off-on switch in response to the presence of protons or Ca(2+) ions. The hybrid meso-architectured interface and their functional features were studied by a combination of experimental techniques including ellipso-porosimetry, cyclic voltammetry, X-ray reflectivity, grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and in situ atomic force microscopy. In this context, we believe that the integration of stimuli-responsive polymer brushes into nanoscopic supramolecular architectures would provide new routes toward multifunctional biomimetic nanosystems displaying transport properties similar to those encountered in biological ligand-gated ion channels.

Densification of sol-gel silica thin films induced by hard X-rays generated by synchrotron radiation

In this article the effects induced by exposure of sol-gel thin films to hard X-rays have been studied. Thin films of silica and hybrid organic-inorganic silica have been prepared via dip-coating and the materials were exposed immediately after preparation to an intense source of light of several keV generated by a synchrotron source. The samples were exposed to increasing doses and the effects of the radiation have been evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy. The X-ray beam induces a significant densification on the silica films without producing any degradation such as cracks, flaws or delamination at the interface. The densification is accompanied by a decrease in thickness and an increase in refractive index both in the pure silica and in the hybrid films. The effect on the hybrid material is to induce densification through reaction of silanol groups but also removal of the organic groups, which are covalently bonded to silicon via Si-C bonds. At the highest exposure dose the removal of the organic groups is complete and the film becomes pure silica. Hard X-rays can be used as an efficient and direct writing tool to pattern coating layers of different types of compositions.

Aerosol route to functional nanostructured inorganic and hybrid porous materials

The major advances in the field of the designed construction of hierarchically structured porous inorganic or hybrid materials wherein multiscale texturation is obtained via the combination of aerosol or spray processing with sol-gel chemistry, self-assembly and multiple templating are the topic of this review. The available materials span a very large set of structures and chemical compositions (silicates, aluminates, transition metal oxides, nanocomposites including metallic or chalcogenides nanoparticles, hybrid organic-inorganic, biohybrids). The resulting materials are manifested as powders or smart coatings via aerosol-directed writing combine the intrinsic physical and chemical properties of the inorganic or hybrid matrices with defined multiscale porous networks having a tunable pore size and connectivity, high surface area and accessibility. Indeed the combination of soft chemical routes and spray processing provides "a wind of change" in the field of "advanced materials". These strategies give birth to a promising family of innovative materials with many actual and future potential applications in various domains such as catalysis, sensing, photonic and microelectronic devices, nano-ionics and energy, functional coatings, biomaterials, multifunctional therapeutic carriers, and microfluidics, among others.