Synthesis of hierarchical materials.

A major goal of material science is to produce hierarchical materials that are ordered on all length scales, from the molecular (1-100 A) via the nano (10-100 nm) to the meso (1-100 microm). In these materials, the larger-scale properties can be controlled by choosing molecular characteristics. Methods developed to produce three-dimensional, bulk-like hierarchical structures include biomimetic methods, which use polypeptides as building blocks, and amphiphile and colloidal templating, which use amphiphilic or colloidal mesophases as templates for inorganic mesoporous materials. Designing finite mesostructures with a given geometry still remains a challenge.