Calixarene Derivatives as Novel Nanopore Generators for Templates of Nanoporous Thin Films

Abstract

Summary: We report herein calixarene derivatives, which could adapt to various fields of application, as novel pore generators for making nanoporous materials. The pore structure of nanoporous materials exhibits disordered pores with small mesopore diameter (2–3 nm), which is similar to the micelle-like assembled structure of the calixarene compounds. The electro-optical properties such as dielectric constants and refractive indexes of these porous thin films can easily be manipulated. The calixarene-templated nanoporous films could find a variety of potential applications, such as low-dielectric constant ( k ) materials and high-surface area materials for catalysis and biotechnology. PM3-optimized structures of CA[4] and CA[6].