While this new class of materials has no standard name, his certain representatives are known in literature as MSM-41, FSM-16, MFI/MSM-41, mesoporous zeolites, etc. Further, for the reasons stated below, we will call them mesostructured mesoporous materials or MMM.

We will explain this name and improbable interest in MMM on the example of the most popular representative of this class, the silicate material MSM-41. This material has hexagonal structure like bee honeycombs with thickness of walls of hW = 0.6–0.8 nanometers and the calibrated size of dMe channels time which it is possible is directed to change in the range of 3-10 nanometers (and in others MMM with the same structure — to 30–50 nanometers and more). Specific surface of MSM-41 channels — 1000–1200 m2/g and volume — to 1 cm3/g. Walls of a time of MMM have disordered (amorphous) internal structure, but material possesses the high-ordered "distant" structure. The similar structures having only a distant order are characteristic for liquid crystals and other liquid-like mesophases, i.e. phases, intermediate between amorphous and crystal. But in this case we have solid, stable when heated to at least 700 ° C, whose X-ray analysis shows the absence of short-range order and the presence of sharp distal (6-8 narrow reflections in the Bragg angle to 8,0 °). This can be attributed to such materials mesostructured and the characteristic pore size - to mesoporous so MMM - a mesostructured mesoporous (or mesophase) material.

These materials like zeolites, molecular sieves can be named, because they are capable of separating molecules by size. The pore size of zeolites varies in the range 0.3-1.2 nm, MMM expand the range of molecular sieves to 10 nm or more. Furthermore, for example, MCM-41 is superior to all known types of zeolites largest specific surface area and pore volume of at least twice, which is important for their use in catalysis and adsorption.

But interest in the MMM has deeper reasons that are related to the characteristics of their synthesis. This synthesis is carried out by self-organized assembly structure of the inorganic component of micellar surfactant surface-active agent (surfactant).

Mechanisms of self-organized assembly of such structures can be conveniently described in terms of "guest" (G) - "master" (M), where the owner is called the micellar surface, and a guest - components adsorbed on the surface. Many details of these mechanisms are not yet clear enough. But in any case, one of the key points is formed on the surface of the master mosaic of nodes with different geometries and interaction potential G / M. This mosaic plays an important role in the mechanism of the selective molecular recognition based at first on long-range Coulomb interaction of counterions of G and M and their further additional mutual orientations under the influence of short-range van der Waals forces, search of options and mutually coordination of their optimum configuration when joining on a micellar surface. A prerequisite for such assembly is movable micellar surface, which is necessary for the establishment of equilibrium and optimal docking fragments guest and host. Other major condition — moderated on energy and therefore reversible interaction between the G / M and (G + M).

Currently synthesized MMM different geometry constructed from oxides of silicon, aluminum, titanium, and a couple dozen other elements of the periodic table (mainly silicates, doped with other elements). But the task of formation MMM with the set combinations of elements on their surface is already set. One of options of receiving such systems — in use "many-headed" surfactant, each of which heads it is capable to take certain ions selectively. Another solution - the use of polymeric surfactants with built along their length selective sorption centers, possible implantation preformed complex composition of inorganic ions, etc. Even this is not a complete description, the micelle forming on the surface and clamp the polymerization and heat treatment of the inorganic component structure may differ substantially from the structure formed from the same component in its precipitation from solution in the absence of the surfactant or the carrier with a rigid structure. It opens basic possibility of synthesis of new materials with the operated structure and properties as at the nuclear, and or supramolecular level. Here still a lot of things — a subject of further researches on a joint organic and inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry of the superficial phenomena, a number of sections of mathematics, physics, etc., but are obvious that already received systems — only the simplest representatives of huge family of materials who can be synthesized on the basis of such strategy.

And the most important result of already conducted researches of mechanisms of formation of MMM in what on such strategy high-selective synthesis in wildlife, including most highly selective assembly of molecules of protein from molecular fragments is based on a surface of DNA and RNA. The well-known double spiral of DNA, characteristic and for many other biopolymers — is a double helicoid, i.e. one of types of the minimum surface with zero average curvature and making an amino acid spiral — typical surfactant with hydrophobic hydrocarbon "body" and the polar heads on the opposite ends.

That is why they form bilayers with complex energy-geometric surface topography. And it is in this topography (energy-geometric mosaic) is encoded all of the genetic information, the assembly mechanisms of enzymes, etc. MMM therefore open the door to the world of strategy synthesis of materials, dominant in nature. And that is why this strategy can be called biomimetic synthesis - that is, synthesis of inorganic materials, which in many respects is similar to being carried out in biological systems.

For more information about the questions you are interested, you can also get from the following sources:

1. http://www.sbras.ru/HBC/article.phtml?nid=56&id=7

2. http://old.lib.sfu-kras.ru/socvest/2003-2/0061270.pdf

3. http://www.freepatent.ru/images/img_patents/2/2529/2529549/patent-2529549.pdf

and also in many other original works and reviews.

thank you very much dear sir Leonid A. Skvortsov