Hybrid inorganic-organic mesoporous silicates - Nanoscopic reactors comingof age

This review describes methods of preparing hybrid inorganic-organic mesopor ous silicates with uniform channel structures, as well as some of their app lications Both reactive and passive organic groups can be incorporated in t he porous solids by grafting methods or by co-condensation under surfactant control. Functional groups have been placed selectively on the internal or external pore surfaces or even within walls of the mesoporous solids. Orga nic functionalization of these solids permits tuning of the surface propert ies (hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, binding to guest molecules), alteratio n of the surface reactivity, protection of the surface from attack, and mod ification of the bulk properties (e.g., mechanical or optical properties) o f the material. Recent applications of hybrid mesoporous silicates highligh ted including catalysis, sorption of metals anions, and organics reactors f or polymerization, fixation of biologically active species, and optical app lications.