Ordered mesoporous silicas and zirconias: control on length scales between nanometer and micrometer

Surfactant-controlled condensation of inorganic solution species can be used to prepare mesostructured phases of silica, zirconia, and titania with structures on a length scale of 1 to 10 nm. If the surfactant can be removed from the composite, a mesoporous structure with a highly regular and ordered pore system is left. If oil soluble inorganic precursors, such as tetraethoxysilane, are used, the organization of the material on a longer scale is also possible. Under favorable circumstances, the inorganic/organic interface in the emulsions, created by mixing the appropriate compounds, controls the shape of the resulting particles, which are structured as well on the nanometer scale. The resulting materials could have several different applications in catalysis, separation technology, or possibly even drug delivery.