Micromolding in Inverted Polymer Opals (MIPO): Synthesis of Hexagonal Mesoporous Silica Opals

Regular arrays of hexagonal mesoporous silica spheres (see Figure) are crucial for a number of applications, but until now control of the diameter, dispersity, and packing of the spheres has not proved possible. These authors report a new method—micromolding in inverted polymer opals—that allows the synthesis of such hexagonal mesoporous silica opals for the first time.