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Nanostructured, electroactive and bioapplicable materials

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crystalline phases. Silicate species deposit between surfactant “rods” <strong>and</strong> then condense<br />

to form the inorganic network. The interaction of the surfactant <strong>and</strong> silicate species<br />

mediates the hexagonal ordering. After removing the surfactant templates from the as-<br />

synthesized sample, <strong>materials</strong> exhibit mesoporosity with pore size of 2-10 nm. In general,<br />

the overall LCT mechanism is directed by two features. One is the dynamics of surfactant<br />

molecules to form assemblies, micelle, <strong>and</strong> ultimately crystalline structure, which<br />

functions as template. The other is the ability of the inorganic oxide to undergo<br />

hydrolysis <strong>and</strong> polycondensation reactions to form network around the organic template.<br />

Since the discovery of M41S family, the surfactant template hydrothermal<br />

pathway has been extensively studied <strong>and</strong> exp<strong>and</strong>ed to sol-gel process. 32,33 A wide<br />

variety of surfactant molecules with different sizes, shapes, functionalities <strong>and</strong> charges<br />

have been subsequently demonstrated to be able to effectively function as pore structure<br />

directing agents. These surfactant molecules can be classified based on their head group<br />

chemistry <strong>and</strong> charge as follows.<br />

− Cationic surfactants: the hydrophilic group carries a positive charge, e.g.,<br />

tetraalkylammonium salts 34 (CnH2n+1)(CH3)3NX, n = 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16,18,<br />

20, 22; X= OH, Cl, Br, HSO4; <strong>and</strong> (CnH2n+1)(C2H5)3N, n = 12, 14, 16, 18).<br />

− Anionic surfactants: the hydrophilic group carries a negative charge, e.g.,<br />

sulfates 35 (CnH2n+1OSO3 (n =12, 14, 16, 18), sulfonates 36 (C16H33SO3H <strong>and</strong><br />

C12H25C6H4SO3Na), <strong>and</strong> phosphates (C12H25OPO3H2, C14H29OPO3K).<br />

11

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