Formation of helical organic-inorganic hybrid silica nanotubes using a chiral anionic gelator

J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2011 Mar;11(3):2427-32. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2011.3606.

Abstract

Right-handed helical organic-inorganic hybrid silica nanotubes were prepared using a chiral anionic gelator with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane as a co-structure-directing agent and 1,4-bis(triethoxysilyl)benzene, 4,4'-bis(triethoxysilyl)-1,1'-biphenyl, bis(triethoxysilyl)methane, 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane, and 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethene as the precursors. The sol-gel reactions were carried out in a mixture of water and ethanol at the volume ratio of 2.2:1.8. The nanostructures were studied using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). For 4,4'-biphenylene-silica nanotube, the circular dichroism spectrum indicates at least some of the biphenyl rings within the walls stack in chiral form. The TEM images taken after different reaction time reveal a cooperative mechanism. The growth of the organic self-assemblies and the adsorption of the hybrid silica oligomers occurred at the same time.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anions
  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Gels / chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemicals / chemistry*
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Nanotubes / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes / ultrastructure*
  • Organic Chemicals / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Anions
  • Gels
  • Inorganic Chemicals
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Silicon Dioxide