Preparation of transparent thin films of silica-surfactant mesostructured materials

Our recent studies on the simple synthetic route to the thin films of the periodic silica-surfactant mesostructured materials are summarized. By depositing the mixtures of the prehydrolyzed tetramethoxysilane and alkyltrimethylammonium salts under an acidic condition on solid supports, transparent thin films of the periodic silica-surfactant mesostructured materials formed. The resulting transparent films have been used as a precursor of the porous silica films and a support for organic photoactive species. Compared with other reported reactions for the silica-surfactant mesostructured materials, this method possesses advantages such as the ease of operation and the possibility to control microstructure and macroscopic morphology. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. Ail rights reserved.