COOPERATIVE FORMATION OF INORGANIC-ORGANIC INTERFACES IN THE SYNTHESIS OF SILICATE MESOSTRUCTURES

A model is presented to explain the formation and morphologies of surf actant-silicate mesostructures. Three processes are identified: multid entate binding of silicate oligomers to the cationic surfactant, prefe rential silicate polymerization in the interface region, and charge de nsity matching between the surfactant and the silicate. The model expl ains present experimental data, including the transformation between l amellar and hexagonal mesophases, and provides a guide for predicting conditions that favor the formation of lamellar, hexagonal, or cubic m esostructures. Model Q230 proposed by Mariani and his co-workers satis factorily fits the x-ray data collected on the cubic mesostructure mat erial. This model suggests that the silicate polymer forms a unique in finite silicate sheet sitting on the gyroid minimal surface and separa ting the surfactant molecules into two disconnected volumes.