This review provides an overview of different aspects of inclusion chemistry in ordered mesoporous host materials such as MCM-41 or MCM-48 (Mobil codes). A rich field of inclusion chemistry has been explored in this context, including sorption, ion exchange, imbibition followed by reduction, grafting of reactive metal alkoxides, halides etc., grafting of silane coupling agents (sometimes followed by subsequent reactions), grafting of reactive metal complexes, and polymerization in the channels. Finally, co-condensation of reactive species during the mesopore synthesis is a method to incorporate functionality into the walls of the channel system. Important applications of these modified and functionalized systems are heterogeneous catalysis and photocatalysis involving bulky grafted catalysts and/or the conversion of large substrates. Other potential applications include ion exchange and separations, removal of heavy metals, chromatography, stabilization of quantum wires, stabilization of dyes, and polymer composites.

Nanometer‐sized surfactant‐templated materials are prepared in the form of stable suspensions of colloidal mesoporous silica (CMS) consisting of discrete, nonaggregated particles with dimensions smaller than 200 nm. A high‐yield synthesis procedure is reported based on a cationic surfactant and low water content that additionally enables the adjustment of the size range of the individual particles between 50 and 100 nm. Particularly, the use of the base triethanolamine (TEA) and the specific reaction conditions result in long‐lived suspensions. Dynamic light scattering reveals narrow particle size distributions in these suspensions. Smooth spherical particles with pores growing from the center to the periphery are observed by using transmission electron microscopy, suggesting a seed‐growth mechanism. The template molecules could be extracted from the nanoscale mesoporous particles via sonication in acidic media. The resulting nanoparticles give rise to type IV adsorption isotherms revealing typical mesopores and additional textural porosity. High surface areas of over 1000 m2 g–1 and large pore volumes of up to 1 mL g–1 are obtained for these extracted samples.

Frameworks of precisely defined pores with diameters matching the size of small molecules endow crystalline zeolites with valuable size- and shape-selectivity. Being important selective adsorbers and separators, zeolites are also indispensable as solid acids in size-selective catalysis. However, despite being extremely beneficial, micropores impose restrictions on the mass transport of reactants, especially when bulky molecules are involved. The prospect to boost the catalytic power of zeolites and to extend their applications into new areas has prompted numerous efforts to synthesize mesoporous zeolitic materials that combine diffusional pathways on two different size scales. Our tutorial review will introduce the reader to this exciting recent development in zeolite science. We will give a general overview of the diverse strategies on how to implement a secondary pore system in zeolites. We will distinguish top-down from bottom-up and template-assisted from 'template-free' procedures. Advantages and limitations of the different methods will also be addressed.

Direct synthesis of CdS within the pore structure of zeolites leads to a novel supercluster with a structural geometry superimposed by the host framework. Detailed X-ray powder diffraction and EXAFS analysis together with optical absorption data reveal discrete (CdS, O), cubes located within the small sodalite units of the structure which begin to interconnect as the loading density within the zeolite rises. The discrete cube building blocks consist of interlocking tetrahedra of Cd and S with a CdS bond length of 2.47 A. At higher loadings these cubes begin to occupy adjacent sodalite units where the Cd atoms point toward each other through the double six-rings linking the sodalite moieties with a Cd-Cd distance of -6 A.As this three-dimensional interconnection proceeds, the corresponding changes in optical properties indicate a progression toward a semiconductor supercluster with behavior intermediate between that of the discrete CdS cubes and bulk semiconductor. Semiconductor superclusters of this type represent a novel class of materials where the three-dimensional structure and electronic properties can be controlled by using different zeolites as the template. The unique stability of the semiconductor clusters inside the sodalite units is due to the coordination of Cd atoms with the framework oxygen atoms of the double six-ring windows. The stability of the supercluster comes from the interaction between clusters in the adjacent sodalite units. We suggest that through-bond coupling is responsible for the interaction between clusters.

The synthesis and characterization of colloidal mesoporous silica (CMS) functionalized with vinyl-, benzyl-, phenyl-, cyano-, mercapto-, aminopropyl- or dihydroimidazole moieties is reported. Uniform mesoporous particles ranging in size from 40 to 150 nm are generated in a co-condensation process of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and organotriethoxysilanes (RTES) in alkaline aqueous media containing triethanolamine (TEA) in combination with cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTACl) serving as a structure-directing agent. The materials are obtained as colloidal suspensions featuring long-term stability after template removal by ion exchange with an ethanolic solution of ammonium nitrate or HCl. The spherical particles exhibit a wormlike pore system with defined pore sizes and high surface areas. Samples are analyzed by a number of techniques including TEM, SEM, DLS, TGA, Raman, and cross-polarized (29)Si-MAS NMR spectroscopy, as well as nitrogen sorption measurements. We demonstrate that co-condensation and grafting methods result in similar changes in the nitrogen adsorption behavior, indicating a successful internal lining of the pores with functional groups through both procedures.