Generalised syntheses of ordered mesoporous oxides: the atrane route

A new simple and versatile technique to obtain mesoporous oxides is present ed. While implying surfactant-assisted formation of mesostructured intermed iates, the original chemical contribution of this approach lies in the use of atrane complexes as precursors. Without prejudice to their inherent unst ability in aqueous solution, the atrane show a marked inertness towards hyd rolysis. Bringing kinetic factors into play, it becomes possible to control the processes involved in the formation of the surfactant-inorganic phase composite micelles, which constitute the elemental building blocks of the m esostructures. Independent of the starting compositional complexity, both t he mesostructured intermediates and the final mesoporous materials are chem ically homogeneous. The final ordered mesoporous materials are thermally st able and show unimodal porosity, as well as homogeneous microstructure and texture. Examples of materials synthesised on account of the versatility of this new method, including siliceous, non siliceous and mixed oxides, are presented and discussed. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsev ier SAS. All rights reserved.