Two‐dimensional DQ 1H MAS NMR has been used the investigate the local structure of a surfactant‐templated silicate thin film prepared from adding 4% polyoxyethylene(10) cetyl ether to an acidic TEOS silica sol. A close spatial contact between the surfactant and the silicate present in these materials could be demonstrated, while the high sensitivity of the NMR experiments allowed systems with limited amounts of material to be investigated. The detected inorganic‐organic interactions in these materials provide additional information into the chemical processes occurring during the self‐assembly process and the formation of meso‐structured materials.
Graphical representation of the spatial interactions observed between the silanols, oxomethylene protons of the surfactant and water within the template silicate material.
