Periodic alignment of sol–gel derived, monodisperse phenylsilsesquioxane particles on a pregrooved substrate

Preparation and alignment of monodisperse inorganic–organic hybrid particles have become one of the most attractive research topics in recent years. In this study, phenylsilsesquioxane (PhSiO3/2) particles were synthesized from phenyltriethoxysilane (PhSi(OEt)3), ethanol (EtOH), hydrochloric acid for hydrolysis and ammonia water for polycondensation via sol–gel process. Spherical PhSiO3/2 particles of 0.1–5.0 μm in diameter were obtained by varying the composition of the sols. The particle size distribution decreased with increasing the amounts of catalyst-containing H2O and EtOH, and increasing the concentrations of catalysts. Monodisperse particles obtained were aligned on a pregrooved glass substrate using an ascending liquid flow and an attractive capillary force between the particles.