# Bridged Mesoporous Oxo-Phosphonates: A General Strategy Toward Functional, Hybrid Materials

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a new method to create hybrid materials with high surface areas and large pores using a cost-effective, one-step process.

## Contribution

A novel, template-free sol–gel method for synthesizing functional mesoporous titania–bisphosphonate hybrids.

## Key findings

- The method produces TiO2 anatase nanorods interconnected by bisphosphonate groups.
- Materials exhibit high surface areas (up to 520 m2·g⁻1) and large pore volumes (up to 0.93 cm3·g⁻1).

## Abstract

Combining the properties of organic and inorganic components with high surface areas and large pore volumes opens up countless possibilities for designing materials tailored to a wide range of advanced applications. As the majority of mesoporous hybrid materials are siliceous, the development of cost-effective synthetic approaches to produce water-stable hybrids with controlled porosity and functionality remains essential. Herein, we describe an original strategy for the synthesis of bridged mesoporous titania–bisphosphonate hybrids based on a one-step, template-free, non-hydrolytic sol–gel process. The reaction between Ti(OiPr)4 and several flexible or rigid bisphosphonate esters, in the presence of acetic anhydride (Ac2O) leads to the formation of TiO2 anatase nanorods interconnected by fully condensed bisphosphonate groups. The general method that we depict is quantitative and low cost. All materials are mesoporous with very high specific surface areas (up to 520 m2·g⁻1) and pore volumes (up to 0.93 cm3·g⁻1).