Synthesis of Macroporous Minerals with Highly Ordered Three-Dimensional Arrays of Spheroidal Voids

TLDR

These highly structured ceramics may be useful for quantum electronics, photocatalysis, and battery materials. Titania, zirconia, and alumina were synthesized in a single‑step room‑temperature reaction by infiltrating metal alkoxide precursors into a latex‑sphere template that condenses in air. Calcination at 575 °C yields close‑packed open‑pore structures with 320–360 nm voids, demonstrating compositional diversity.

Abstract

Titania, zirconia, and alumina samples with periodic three-dimensional arrays of macropores were synthesized from the corresponding metal alkoxides, using latex spheres as templates. In a fast, single-step reaction, the monomeric alkoxide precursors permeate the array of bulk polystyrene spheres and condense in air at room temperature. Close packed, open-pore structures with 320- to 360-nanometer voids are obtained after calcination of the organic component at 575°C. The examples presented demonstrate the compositional diversity possible with this technique. The resulting highly structured ceramics could have applications in areas ranging from quantum electronics to photocatalysis to battery materials.