Synthesis and Optical Applications of Periodic Mesoporous Organosilicas

Periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs), synthesized via surfactant-directed self-assembly of a polysilylated organic precursor (R[Si(OR')₃]_n; n≥2, R: organic group), are promising candidates such as catalysts and adsorbents, and for use in optical and electrical devices, owing to their high surface area, well-defined nanoporous structure, and highly functional organosilica framework. Their framework functionality can be widely tuned by selecting appropriate organic groups and controlling their arrangement. This chapter describes the synthesis and structure of PMOs with simple organic groups such as ethane and benzene, and the unique properties and optical applications of functional PMOs. Special light-harvesting properties and their exploitation in photocatalysis, highly emissive PMOs and their application to color-tunable transparent films, hole-transporting PMOs and their use in organic solar cells, and PMOs containing chelating ligands and their use as solid supports for heterogeneous metal complex catalysis are described.