Multi-step functionalization procedure for fabrication of vertically aligned mesoporous silica thin films with metal-containing molecules localized at the pores bottom

Abstract

A novel method for fabrication of precisely functionalized nanomaterials was developed. Presented here multi-step functionalization procedure can be applied for vertically-aligned mesoporous silica thin films. As an example, we presented the syntheses of films, precisely functionalized by the propyl-copper-phosphonate and the propyl-silver-carbonate groups located exclusively at the pores bottom. Obtained functional materials were characterized by a few physical and chemical techniques: transmission electron microscopy, X-ray scattering, differential pulse voltammetry and infrared spectroscopy supported by the numerical simulations. On this base, we prove the efficiency of the synthesis method. We expect that presented multi-step functionalization procedure can be easily generalized and applied for fabrication of the novel porous silica-based functional materials.