One of the challenges in material science has been to prepare macro- or mesoporous zeolite. Although examples of their synthesis exist, there is a need for a facile yet versatile approach to such hierarchical structures. Here we report a concept for designing a single quaternary ammonium head amphiphilic template with strong ordered self-assembling ability through π–π stacking in hydrophobic side, which stabilizes the mesostructure to form single-crystalline mesostructured zeolite nanosheets. The concept is demonstrated for the formation of a new type of MFI (zeolite framework code by International Zeolite Association) nanosheets joined with a 90° rotational boundary, which results in a mesoporous zeolite with highly specific surface area even after calcination. Low binding energies for this self-assembling system are supported by a theoretical analysis. A geometrical matching between the arrangement of aromatic groups and the zeolitic framework is speculated for the formation of single-crystalline MFI nanosheets.

The optical chirality induced at the absorption bands due to electronic exciton coupling of the transition dipole moments between chromophores in close proximity is ubiquitous in helical organic materials. However, inorganic materials with optical activity resulting from electronic transitions have not been explored. Here we report the synthesis of chiral TiO₂ fibres via transcription of the helical structure of amino acid-derived amphiphile fibres through coordination bonding interactions between the organics and the TiO₂ source. Upon calcination, the as-prepared amorphous TiO₂ double-helical fibres with a pitch length of ~100 nm were converted to double-helical crystalline fibres with stacks of anatase nanocrystals in an epitaxial helical relationship. Both the amorphous and anatase crystalline helical TiO₂ fibres exhibited optical response to circularly polarized light at the absorption edge around ~350 nm. This was attributed to the semiconductor TiO₂-based electronic transitions from the valence band to the conduction band under an asymmetric electric field.

Fabrication of chiral materials and revealing the mechanisms involved in their formation are crucial issues in scientific research. The combination of cooperative self-assembly routes and the chiral templating process favors the formation of inorganic chiral materials with highly ordered mesostructures. This tutorial review highlights the recent research on chiral mesoporous silica (CMS) of hierarchical helical constructions transcribed from organic templates. The rules and mechanisms involved in the synthesis of CMS and related materials, especially the novel expression of chirality and imprinting of helical micellar superstructure by the functional groups immobilized on the mesopore surface, provide us with a deeper insight into the chiral self-assemby process and new strategies for the design and application of chiral materials. This review is addressed to researchers and students interested in chiral chemistry, supramolecular chemistry and mesoporous materials (53 references).