A new phase of oriented mesoporous silicate thin films

The syntheses and characterization of silicate/surfactant thin films with the structure P6(3)/mmc is presented. The films are synthesized using a novel double-headed quaternary amine surfactant and can be grown either on mica or at the air-water interface. Films are shown to be crystalline and oriented with the c-axis perpendicular to the plane of the film. The films can be calcined to remove the surfactant and produce a mesoporous silicate material. Evidence is presented that suggests that films nucleate on hexagonally close packed surfactant micelles.