From Defects to Controlled Alignments

Abstract

One of the most important challenges to be faced in the self-assembly of mesoporous films is the control of the organization on a dimensional scale that extends beyond the micron. Furthermore, defects of different types can form during the self-assembly process, similarly to what is observed in crystalline structures. Defect control is critical because many of the material's functional properties are directly dependent on them. Point or linear defects are observed both in atomic and liquid crystal structures and similarly in mesoporous materials. The other challenge to be faced is reducing the number of so-called punctual defects and obtaining an organization of the porosity on a macroscopic scale. Precisely as in the case of atomic crystals in which polycrystalline structures with domains oriented within every single crystallite, different organized structures are observed in mesoporous films, as discussed in previous chapters. Typically the order is confined to within a few microns.