Hexagonal mesoporous silica layers were first prepared by the sol-gel route
from solutions containing silicon alkoxides as silica precursors and
alkyltrimethylammonium bromides to form the templating liquid crystal
mesophase. The synthesis conditions required to obtain well-ordered
crack-free layers were investigated. Two main synthesis parameters were
identified. The first one is the aging time of the sol before deposition
which defines the size of the inorganic cluster before the thin layer
deposition and the simultaneous phase formation. The second important
synthesis parameter is the surfactant volume fraction in the medium after
the departure of the volatile components. Well-ordered hexagonal layers were
obtained for surfactant volume fractions in agreement with the
water-surfactant binary diagram. These synthesis conditions were extended to
cubic and lamellar phases and to other types of surfactants, gemini
(cationic surfactants with two polar head groups) and non-ionic triblock
copolymers. First results concerning the extension of this approach to the
preparation of alumina thin layers are finally presented.
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