Fabrication and analytical applications of hybrid mesoporous membranes

Recently, a hybrid mesoporous membrane composed of surfactant-templated mesoporous silica inside a porous anodic alumina membrane has been developed. Since this membrane allows the use of columnar silica-mesopores (silica-nanochannels) as nanofluidic channels, separation of molecules can be realized by mass transport through the silica-nanochannel with molecular dimensions. Here, we review the methods to fabricate the hybrid mesoporous membranes, their structural features, and the analytical applications of hybrid mesoporous membranes.