Inorganic head groups, controlled

Traditionally, the sol-gel process has been used for the preparation of silica nanoparticles via the hydrolysis of alkoxides in organic solvents [52,53]. Similar hydrolysis and condensation carried out in w/o microemulsion offers robust control over the synthesis process. W/o emiflsion-mediated sol-gel synthesis is currently used for the fabrication of pure sihca, as well as inorganic and organic dye-doped silica nanoparticles. The synthesis of sihca and dye-doped nanoparticles is classified in the following sections on the basis of the classification of the head group fimctionahty of the major surfactant used. 

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) provide a versatile system for control of the interfacial properties of inorganic compounds. SAMs result from the spontaneous adsorption and assembly of molecular compounds into crystalline structures. Commonly used molecules consist of a head group with a specific affinity for a particular material, and a terminal group containing a chemical function that becomes exposed... 

The resultant hydrolyzed, polar species can have a better interaction with the polar head group of the surfactant, resulting in the formation of ordered structures. Soler-illia et al. reported a modulation of hybrid interface approach, which relies on the addition of controlled quantities of water to the solution of the inorganic precursor and a nonionic surfactant in an organic solvent to obtain ordered mesostructures. 

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