Periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs): past, present, and future

Periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) represent a new class of organic-inorganic hybrid materials suitable for a broad range of applications such as chromatography, catalysis, sensing and microelectronics. Unlike in organic functionalized mesoporous silica phases obtained via grafting or co-condensation procedures the organic groups in PMOs are direct parts of the 3D framework structure, thus giving raise to enormous possibilities to tune their chemical and physical properties in designated ways by varying the structure of the precursors. In this review the distinctive features of PMOs are discussed, the latest developments concerning compositions, structures, morphologies and potential applications are figured out and finally a brief outlook of future aspects is given.