SYNTHESIS OF OXIDE AND NONOXIDE INORGANIC MATERIALS AT ORGANIC-SURFACES

Outstanding features of biominerals and some key characteristics of bi omineralization processes, which inspired so-called biomimetic approac hes of materials synthesis, are summarized. Previous results on the de position of oxide thin films on organic self-assembled monolayers (SAM s) from liquid solutions at temperatures below 100 degrees C are revie wed. Because of deleterious effects of basic solutions on the structur al order and adhesion of siloxy-anchored SAMs, the present technique i s best suited to oxides of cations that can be precipitated in acidic aqueous solutions. This conclusion is supported by the results on film s containing Zn2+. Compact thin films of ZnO could be synthesized unde r basic conditions, but the films showed less complete coverage and ad herence than previously reported films (e.g. TiO2, ZrO2, Y2O3, etc.) t hat were formed from acidic solutions. First attempts to use SAMs in t he synthesis of Si-C-N ceramic films (silicon-dicarbodiimide) are desc ribed.