Coupling of soft technology (layer-by-layer assembly) with hard materials (mesoporous solids) to give hierarchic functional structures

Bottom-up fabrication based on self-assembly has become a central subject of the emerging strategies in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Recently, two paradigms of the self-assembly domain, that is mesoporous fabrication and layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly, have been merged to create functional hierarchic structures that co-possess characteristics of both: highly-precise pore geometries and organized layered structures. In this highlight article, we introduce recent pioneering examples of nanomaterials fabricated by using combinations of these techniques. Following brief introductions to each of the two basic techniques, descriptions of their combinations, i.e. LbL assembly involving mesoporous structures entailing immobilization of functionalities in nanopores and template syntheses or LbL assembly of mesoporous structures including design of functional hierarchic structures, will be given. Coupling of mesoporous materials technologies and LbL assembly will introduce methods for construction of well-designed and integrated nano-and microstructures beyond the individual categories of soft matter and hard materials.