The Control of Nanostructured Solids: A Challenge for Molecular Chemistry

Nanostructured hybrid organic-inorganic solids are a class of materials of growing interest because of their great potential in synthesis and possible applications. All organic molecules containing at least two −Si(OR)3 groups can be transformed by hydrolytic polycondensation at silicon into materials in which the −Si(OR)3 groups are changed into −SiO1.5. Moreover, the physical properties of the organic units included in the silica matrix are maintained in the solid. This sol-gel-type transformation leads initially to a viscous sol that allows devices to be made (films, matrices and even fibres in some cases). Finally, these materials exhibit both short-range and long-range organisation in the solid when the organic units have a rigid geometry.