Structure-directing catalysis for synthesis of metal, non-silicon metalloid and rare earth oxides and nitrides, and their organic or hydrido conjugates and derivatives

摘要

A method that utilizes a family of catalysts to produce metal, non-silicon metalloid and rare earth oxides and nitrides, and their organic or hydrido conjugates and derivatives from corresponding alkoxide-like precursors while simultaneously directing the nanostructure of the resulting material. The family of catalysts include the silicateins, a family of enzymes responsible for the structure-directing polycondensation of silica in biological systems. Silicateins catalyze the formation of structurally organized silica polymers. Other suitable catalysts include a large group of enzymes that mimic the action of silicateins, peptide biomimetics of silicateins, and other chemical entities that act catalytically by a mechanism related to that of the silicateins.