Inorganic polymerization in a non-ionic lyotropic lamellar phase

Silicon tetramethoxide was polymerized within a nonionic lyotropic lamellar phase. After gelation, the birefringence of the sample is preserved and po larized light optical microscope observations reveal no segregation. High R esolution Small Angle X-ray Scattering patterns of the gel shows Bragg peak s characteristic of a layered structure. Freeze fracture experiments on the lamellar gel show stacks of parallel bilayers. The experimental observatio ns indicate that the silica is located in the lamellar structure.