Porosity characterization, thin films with

To date, silica has been the focus of the majority of studies on oxide-based nanos-tructured materials. One of the major reasons for this is its easy processability, high chemical inertness and exceptional colloidal stability. Moreover, silica can be processed as a thin film with controllable porosity and optical transparency. All these properties make silica ideal for use in model systems, and it is widely used in many industrial areas ranging from paints and drug delivery to composite materials. Zou et al. have recently published a detailed review on the preparation, characterization, properties, and applications of polymer/silica nanocomposites and the reader is referred to this review for in-depth description of the various synthetic routes [16]. 

In conclusion, we first described the one step synthesis of nanoporous organosilica powders functionalized with a Non Linear Optical chromophore in the channel pore (azobenzene diethylphosphonate). These powders have been totally characterized and present a meso-porosity with a wormlike structure. Thin films monofunction-alised with NLO chromophore in the channel pores or bifunctionalized (NLO in the channel pores/erbium salt in the framework) were also prepared in one step and characterized by Grazing Incidence Small angle X-ray Scattering (GISAXS) and X-ray reflectivity. Interestingly, while the monofunctional thin film presents a lamellar structure, the bifunctional one (channel pores/framework)... 

Metal oxides with controlled porosity and reactivity constitute another class of materials for which large developments have been performed in the past 20 years. The preparation of thin films has been thoroughly investigated notably for electrochemical applications, including energy conversion " or electroanalysis.A large overview on the preparation and properties of inorganic and hybrid mesoporous films has been published some years ago. More recently, a review appeared on the electrochemical approaches for the fabrication and/or characterization of pure and hybrid templated mesoporous oxide thin films. " ... 

A unique type of corrosion referred to as copper by-product release, cuprosolvency, or blue water occurs in potable water systems constructed of copper tubing, and has been reported worldwide [92-95]. The problem is most often attributed to EPS induced metal concentration cells. The condition is characterized by the release of copper as fine particles in plumbing systems distributing soft water in the neutral or neutral-alkaline pH range. Water may contain between 5 to 300 ppm copper (as Cu +) as finely suspended precipitates. A bacterial biofilm and associated acidic EPS bind copper ions at the metal surface and alter the porosity of the oxide film [96]. Geesey and coworkers [97] characterized binding of an acidic polysaccharide to thin copper films and su ested a cupric ion interaction with carboxyl groups on EPS. These interactions promoted ionization of metallic... 

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