Ordered mesoporous hybrid thin films with double organic functionality and mixed oxide framework

Abstract

Highly ordered mixed framework mesoporous cubic (Im3m) or 2D hexagonal (p6m) thin films of (M_1−x(Si–R)_x)O_2−x/2 bearing organic groups (M = Ti or Zr, R = propylamine, mercaptopropyl or phenyl, x ≤ 0.2) are obtained by one-pot dip-coating. A second organic function (R′ = hexadecyl, phenyl, sulfonate…) can be added by post-grafting with a molecule presenting a chelating group capable of anchoring to the M sites (phosphate, phosphonate, polyhydroxyphenol, carboxylate…) and a second organic group. This two-step procedure leads to bifunctional accessible mesopores. The role of post-synthesis stabilisation treatments, the alternative processes for template extraction, and the pore accessibility towards a second function are presented and discussed.