Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Mesostructured transition metal (Ti, Zr, V, Al and Ce-Zr) oxide-based hybrid thin films, templated by poly(ethylene oxide)-based surfactants or block copolymers, have been prepared reproducibly, displaying 2D-hexagonal (p6m) or 2D-centred rectangular (c2m) structure. By carefully adjusting the variables involved it is possible to combine both high organisation and excellent optical quality. TiO2 and ZrO2-based materials show thermal stability up to 400-550°C. The elimination of the template can be conducted efficiently and gives rise to high surface area mesoporous films. For the other metal oxide hybrids the inorganic framework is much more fragile, and requires a precise sequence of post-treatments to be stabilised. In addition, original and homogeneous macrotextures shaped with coral-like, helical or macroporous sieves morphologies have been obtained following a nanotectonic approach based on the template-directed assembly by poly-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate (PBLG) of organically functionalised CeO2 crystalline nanoparticles.