Silica nanotubes can serve as high aspect ratio templates for the deposition of inorganic nanoparticles to form novel hybrids. However, the nature of the interfacial binding is still an unresolved challenge when considered at the atomic level. In this work, novel nanocomposites have been successfully fabricated by the controlled nucleation and assembly of Sb₂S₃ nanoparticles on the surface of m...

Traditional approaches to the formation of mesostructured inorganic films from block-copolymer and surfactant templates rely on simultaneous assembly of amphiphilic structure-directing agents and inorganic sol–gel precursor species into ordered hybrid structures. Variations in sample composition and processing conditions have afforded considerable control over the local (nanometer-scale) morpho...

The present study attempts to incorporate methacrylate-based polymers into ordered lamellar organic/inorganic nanocomposite films composed of alternating SiO2/polymer layers. The films are prepared by dip-coating from a solution containing the monomers and silica precursors, thus leading to composite lamellar mesostructured materials through evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA). A polymeriz...

Co-self-assembly of mesostructured silica films from solutions of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and water, silica precursor species, and structure-directing Pluronic P123 block-copolymer molecules is reported with and without conjugated polymer guest species. The solution-phase behavior of the ternary THF-water-P123 system guided the selection of nonequilibrium synthesis conditions that allowed highly ...

In this review, the most recent advances (2014-2016) on the synthesis of new polymer-supported catalysts are reported, focusing the attention on the synthetic strategies developed for their preparation. The polymer-supported catalysts examined will be organic-based polymers and organic-inorganic hybrids and will include, among others, polystyrenes, poly-ionic liquids, chiral ionic polymers, den...

Bio-silica represents the main mineral component of the sponge skeletal elements (siliceous spicules), while bio-polyphosphate (bio-polyP), a multifunctional polymer existing in microorganisms and animals acts, among others, as reinforcement for pores in cell membranes. These natural inorganic bio-polymers, which can be readily prepared, either by recombinant enzymes (bio-silica and bio-polyP) ...

In organic-inorganic nanocomposites, interfacial regions are primarily influenced by the dispersion uniformity of nanoparticles and the strength of interfacial bonds between the nanoparticles and the polymer matrix. The insulating performance of organic-inorganic dielectric nanocomposites is highly influenced by the characteristics of interfacial regions. In this study, we prepare polyethylene ...

Nowadays, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are the most promising green energy conversion devices for portable and stationary applications. Traditionally, these devices were based onperfluoro-sulfonic acid electrolytes membranes, given the commercial name Nafion. Nafion is the mostused electrolyte membrane till now; because of its high electrochemical properties su...

Abstract Inorganic–organic hybrid materials have promising properties for bone repair because of the covalent bonding between their inorganic and organic phases. This desirable interaction allows limitations composite materials, such as inhomogeneous biodegradation rates nonbiointeractive surfaces, to be overcome. In this study, a polycaprolactone (PCL)-based polyurethane (PU) with an organosil...

A novel soft-hard cooperative approach was developed to synthesize bioactive mesoporous composite by pre-wrapping Penicillin G amidase with poly(acrylaimde) nanogel skin and subsequently incorporating such Penicillin G amidase nanocapsules into hierarchically mesoporous silica. The as-received bioactive mesoporous composite exhibited comparable activity and extraordinarily high stability in com...