Hybrid and biohybrid silicate based materials: molecular vs. block-assembling bottom-up processes.

This critical review introduces a discussion on the influence of preparative procedures (nanofabrication) of nanostructured hybrids and biohybrids, comparing their structural and textural characteristics that determine the properties of the resulting materials. Selected examples of silicate-based hybrids of analogous compositions prepared by both molecular and blocks-assembly bottom-up strategies are discussed to show advantages and inconveniences of each methodology (341 references).