Abstract
Our recent results on the preparation of silica-based nanoporous materials with unique structures and porosities, derived from various starting materials, have been reviewed. The interactions between various silicate-based starting materials and organic substances are quite important to control the structures and morphologies. The main contents are 1) design of two dimensional nanospaces using layered silicates, 2) morphological control of mesoporous silica, and 3) self-directed systems derived from organoalkoxysilanes. In the section 1), both the utilization of interlayer space of layered silicates by introducing various organic compounds and the formation of three dimensional frameworks from layered silicates have been presented. In the section 2), the development of mesoporous silica and the formation of mesoporous films and nanoparticles have been reported. In the section 3), self-organization of hydrolyzed organoalkoxysilanes under controlled conditions to form mesostructured materials with designed structures and unique characters has been presented. The information presented here will be useful for future developments of materials design of silicate-based functional materials.
