Inorganic and Hybrid Nanofibrous Materials Templated with Organogelators

Abstract

This article presents a general overview about the designed synthesis of one-dimensional (1-D) inorganic and organic–inorganic hybrid fibrous nanostructures templated through the use of organogelator-based supramolecular assemblies. The growing number of structural families and derivatives of low-molecular-weight organogelators (LMOGs) already used as templates for materials transcription are first presented, including a detailed compilation with relevant information about the gelation properties and the morphologies of their resulting self-assembled fibrillar networks (SAFINs). The main types of intermolecular interactions responsible for the gel-phase formation and some of the principal variables governing the gelation process and controlling the obtained fibrous morphologies (fibers, rods, ribbons, helices, tubes, etc.) are also discussed. After highlighting the most important processing methodologies that are available for materials transcription through organogel templates (coassembly, post-transcription, or self-templating procedures), the manuscript presents an updated description of the different inorganic (silica-based, other metal oxides, nonoxides) and organic–inorganic hybrid fibrous materials so far templated by using these approaches. The key mechanistic aspects and different templating pathways involved in the transcription process are also discussed, concluding with a final discussion about challenging aspects or future prospects in this field.