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Mesoporous Silica and Organosilica Films Templated by Nanocrystalline Chitin
Author(s) -
Nguyen ThanhDinh,
Shopsowitz Kevin E.,
MacLachlan Mark J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201301929
Subject(s) - chitin , materials science , nanocrystalline material , chemical engineering , mesoporous organosilica , mesoporous material , calcination , nanocrystal , hydrolysis , aqueous solution , mesoporous silica , organic chemistry , chitosan , nanotechnology , chemistry , catalysis , engineering
Liquid crystalline phases can be used to impart order into inorganic solids, creating materials that mimic natural architectures. Herein, mesoporous silica and organosilica films with layered structures and high surface areas have been templated by nanocrystalline chitin. Aqueous suspensions of spindle‐shaped chitin nanocrystals were prepared by sequential deacetylation and hydrolysis of chitin fibrils isolated from king crab shells. The nanocrystalline chitin self‐assembles into a nematic liquid‐crystalline phase that has been used to template silica and organosilica composites. Removal of the chitin template by either calcination or sulfuric‐acid‐catalyzed hydrolysis gave mesoporous silica and ethylene‐bridged organosilica films. The large, crack‐free mesoporous films have layered structures with features that originate from the nematic organization of the nanocrystalline chitin.