Ceramics and Nanostructures from Molecular Precursors

The elaboration of solids from the molecular scale by a kinetically controlled methodology is one of the main challenges of molecular chemistry. In the long term, this should permit the design of solids with desired properties. Here, some examples are given which show a few methods that have been used for the preparation of solids from molecular precursors. The one-pot synthesis of rheologically controlled SiC is described. Access to a new kind of ceramic is obtained by the same methodology using molecular precursors. Mixed ceramics with interpenetrating networks are not accessible by the chemical thermodynamic route. The chemistry of hybrid materials obtained from molecular precursors through inorganic polymerization is presented. This class of materials offers wide perspectives because of 1) the large possibilities opened by the organic unit, 2) the kinetic control, which permits any kind of texture for the solid, and 3) the aptitude of these solids to become nanostructured.