The synthesis and elaboration of mesoporous ceramics has
been the focal point of much research over the last decade. The
hexagonal phase of mesoporous silica (named MCM-41 by its
inventors) can be thought of as a glass honeycomb with highly
uniform, nanometer scale pore diameter and wall thickness.3
This morphology results in huge amounts of surface area
(commonly 900–1000 m2 g21) in a very compact volume.
Being silica-based, MCM-41 is amenable to vitrification
processing. Excellent chemical specificity can be imparted to
this interface by coating the glass honeycomb with a suitably
functionalized self-assembled monolayer. Self-assembled
monolayers on mesoporous supports (SAMMS) have thus
proven to be superior sorbent materials for heavy metals,
oxometallate anions and caesium.4 In this manuscript we
describe the synthesis of silanes that incorporate the CMPO
features, as well as the deposition of monolayers composed of
these silanes within mesoporous silica (MCM-41).