Fabrication and electrochemical application of monolayers of well-ordered macroporous silica

Highly ordered macroporous silica films with a monolayer thickness and regular array of spherical pores with diameters of about 305 nm are prepared using templates self-assembled by polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) spheres on solid surfaces by spin coating. The macropores are uniform in size and completely exposed on the bottom surface of the film after the PMMA spheres are etched out. Based on electrochemical experiments, the film allows for easy mass transport of Ru(bpy)3(2+) to the ITO surface. Electrochemical detection of DNA hybridization was also carried out in model oligonucleotide hybrids immobilized on the macroporous silica film.