Polymerization of various silicic acids on biological templates
First Claim
1. A method for preparing an inorganic shell of an organic material template, comprising:
- providing an organic material template;
contacting the organic material template with a silicon halide; and
hydrolyzing the silicon halide.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods are disclosed for using biopolymers as templates for the polymerization of monomeric silicic acids. A method is provided wherein a biological polymer is used as a template. An inorganic polymer backbone forms a shell encasing the biopolymer template. The organic portion may be removed to leave inorganic nanotubes or other micro- or nano-scale structures which are the approximate size and shape of the template. The surface macrostructure of the biological template is duplicated in a silica shell—even molecular level imprinting is possible. The resulting silica structures have many uses, especially where micro- or nano-scale morphology should be controlled. Catalysts, semiconductors or metals may be deposited on the inside surface of the inorganic shell support. In another example, micro- or nano-particles that mimic the size and shape of the biopolymer template may be synthesized.
12 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method for preparing an inorganic shell of an organic material template, comprising:
-
providing an organic material template;
contacting the organic material template with a silicon halide; and
hydrolyzing the silicon halide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. The composition of matter comprising a shell of a biological material, further comprising:
silicon compounds in which the microscale or nanoscale form, morphology, texture, or topography of the biological material has been substantially replicated. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
19. The composition of matter forming a mold of a biological template substrate, comprising:
-
silica, silicates, silicic acids, or polysilicic acid, and mixtures thereof;
in which the microscale or nanoscale form, morphology, texture, or topography of the biological template substrate has been replicated. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification