Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
In this report we introduce new types of organic-inorganic hybrid mesoporous materials, in which organic and inorganic moieties are distributed homogeneously at the molecular level in the framework, forming a covalently bonded network. Possessing unique surfaces on which both organic and inorganic components are exposed, these materials are expected to have applications in various areas as catalysts, adsorbents and separators, and as hosts for nano-cluster synthesis. The hybrid mesoporous materials showed not only unique surface properties but also unique structural features in micron- or angstrom-scales. Mesoporous materials containing ethylene groups in the main framework formed a variety of particle morphologies of hexagonal rod, spherical, and decaoctahedral shapes in the sizes of 1-10 μm. Mesoporous material containing phenylene groups showed novel crystal-like 7.6 Å periodicity in the pore walls. The mesoporous material has periodically arranged hydrophobic-hydrophilic surfaces, which is a great advantage for use as catalyst and host material for inclusion chemistry.