Mesoporous ceramics and multifunctional organic-inorganic hybrids prepared by sol-gel process

Abstract

This thematic research project involves a team of five principal researchers and five collaborating researchers with their postgraduate and scientific initiation students, in addition to researchers working for post-doctorates. The project's main objective is to guarantee the continuity of studies we have been developing for over more than ten years on the preparation of ceramic or hybrid nanomaterials using the sol-gel process. The central theme of the project involves the study of mesoporous ceramics with periodical arrangement of pores and organic-inorganic hybrids with different functions, namely: devices for controlled release of pharma-chemicals, transparent solid ionic conductors, anti-corrosion barriers, adsorbents of heavy metals, catalyst supports, diffraction gratings, narrow band laser, contrast agents and markers for clinical diagnosis. All these systems present as a common aspect the nanometric characteristics of the phases responsible for the specific properties of the proposed applications. We intend to prepare organic hybrids siloxane-polymer (poly (ethylene oxide), PEO, poly (propylene oxide), PPO, poly (methacrylates) and poly (glycides)) covalently bonded and evaluate the effect of the conditions of preparation on the nano-structural characteristics and on the functional properties. In the case of ceramic systems we should evaluate the viability of controlling the size of the pores and the type of periodic arrangement based on the use of "liquid crystals” formed by the auto-association of amphiphilic molecules of tensoactives present in the reactional medium. It still remains to establish the conditions of preparation of emulsions composed of the mixture water/oil/tensoactive/co-tensoactive capable of functioning as nano or micro-reactor and confine both the growth of particles and the growth of pores. (AU)