Ordered Mesoporous Alumina and Their Composites Based on Evaporation Induced Self-Assembly for Adsorption and Catalysis

Abstract

Ordered mesoporous alumina (OMA) and the related composites with large surface areas, organized mesoporous channels, narrow pore size distributions, and high thermal stability have been explored in considerable fields like adsorption and catalysis. Compared with other synthesis methods, evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA) technology affords a superior potential for the synthesis of both OMA and OMA composites. This review focuses on the synthesis, adsorption, and catalytic performance of OMA and their composites based on one-pot EISA technique over the past decade. The effect of synthesis conditions including templates, alumina precursors, etc. on the morphology of OMA was discussed in the first part. Using the one-pot EISA method, modified metal particles and even single atom species were highly distributed in the ordered mesoporous channels of OMA with strong metal–support interaction, which obviously restricts the aggregation and sintering of active metal sites. In terms of the unique structure properties, moderate acidity, as well as a large amount of active metal sites, the activity and stability of OMA and OMA composites obtained by the EISA method in adsorption and catalysis were discussed, and the related opportunities in synergistic catalysis and single atom catalysis were also highlighted.