The Control of Nanostructured Solids: A Challenge for Molecular Chemistry

Nanostructured hybrid organic‐inorganic solids are a class of materials of growing interest because of their great potential in synthesis and possible applications. All organic molecules containing at least two −Si(OR) 3 groups can be transformed by hydrolytic polycondensation at silicon into materials in which the −Si(OR) 3 groups are changed into −SiO 1.5 . Moreover, the physical properties of the organic units included in the silica matrix are maintained in the solid. This sol‐gel‐type transformation leads initially to a viscous sol that allows devices to be made (films, matrices and even fibres in some cases). Finally, these materials exhibit both short‐range and long‐range organisation in the solid when the organic units have a rigid geometry.