Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica

Periodic mesoporous organosilica is a thin film interspersed with pores just two-billionths of a metre across. This new material could help develop smaller digital devices and cellphones, and lead to innovative methods for the delivery of medication through skin patches.

The material is produced by mixing an organosilica precursor (silica glass, containing organic groups) with a surface tension reducing agent (i.e. a soap) which causes the organosilica to self-assemble into a nanostructure. After washing away the soap, a nanoporous material remains in the form of a thin film. The new material is an excellent insulator that could be used to separate tiny wires inside microelectronics.