Inorganic monoliths hierarchically textured via concentrated direct emulsion and micellar templatesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: XRD profiles, nitrogen physisorption data and pore size distribution calculated from density functional theory, for the xSi-HIPE0.035 series. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/jm/b4/b400984c/

Abstract

Hierarchical inorganic porous monoliths have been prepared using concentrated emulsion and micellar templates. The texture of these monoliths has to be tuned varying either the pH of the continuous aqueous phase, the emulsification process or the oil volumic fraction. These materials show interconnected macroporosity associated with vermicular-type mesostructuration. They possess an average mesoporosity of 800 m2 g−1 associated with bulk density as low as 0.08 g cm−3, which is comparable to values obtained for silica aerogel.