Inorganic/block copolymer-dye composites and dye doped mesoporous materials for optical and sensing applications

A method of forming a transparent mesoscopically structured material that includes an optical or redox responsive moiety, comprising:

• i) preparing a self-assembling system by dissolving an inorganic network precursor species and a block copolymer in a solvent;
• ii) polymerizing or crystallizing said precursor species to form a mesostructured composite, said composite comprising an inorganic network;
• iii) removing the block copolymer from the composite to form an inorganic network having mesopores;
• and
• iv) loading an optically responsive agent into the mesopores of the inorganic network.

A method of forming a transparent mesoscopically structured material that includes an optical or redox responsive moiety, comprising:

• i) combining a functionalized inorganic network precursor having a reactive group with a functionalized optically responsive agent having a complementary reactive group to form a derivatized optically responsive agent, in which said optically responsive agent is covalently attached to said inorganic network precursor;
• ii) preparing a self-assembling system by dissolving a block copolymer;
• and the derivatized agent in a solvent;
• and
• iii) polymerizing or crystallizing said derivatized agent to form a mesostructured composite having an inorganic network wherein the optically responsive agent is covalently anchored to said inorganic network.

A method of forming an optically responsive mesoscopically structured material comprising:

• i) combining an amphiphilic block copolymer, an inorganic oxide precurser species and an optically responsive agent;
• ii) applying pressure to said combination, whereby the block copolymer and inorganic oxide precursor are self-assembled into a mesoscopically structured composite;
• and
• iii) polymerizing said inorganic oxide precursor species to form an inorganic oxide framework.

A method of making a waveguide, comprising:

• i) preparing a first self-assembling system by dissolving an inorganic oxide precursor and an amphiphilic block copolymer in an acidic solvent;
• ii) applying a film of the first self assembling system on a substrate;
• iii) polymerizing said inorganic oxide precursor of the first self assembling system to form a mesostructured composite;
• iv) removing the amphiphilic block copolymer to form a mesoporous support layer;
• v) preparing a second self-assembling system by dissolving an inorganic oxide precursor, an amphiphilic block copolymer, and an optically responsive agent in an acidic solvent;
• vi) molding the second self-assembling system into a waveguide pattern on the mesoporous support layer by soft lithography;
• and
• vii) polymerizing said precursor of the second self-assembling system to form an optically responsive mesostructured composite.