Fabrication of Lamellar Nanostructure from Cage-like Poly-anion Silicate and Surfactant by Template-directed Synthesis

An organic-inorganic hybrid with improved thermal stability has been prepared via template-directed self-assembly synthesis from one kind of cage-like poly-anion silicate (octa(tetramethylammonium) polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes) and ionic surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide). Repeated lamellar nanostructure can be obtained from the self organization from inorganic core (silicon-oxygen cage) and organic chains (alkyl chain from surfactant) are noted for their different levels of compatibility. The ordered nanostructure was determined by X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electronic microscopy, and scanning electronic microscopy. The thermogravimetric analysis results obtained under nitrogen atmosphere suggest the improved thermal stability of the obtained hybrid, which is resulted from the barrier effect of its inorganic layers.