Colloidal crystal-templated macroporous solids for catalytic applications

A number of colloidal crystal templating methods have been developed to obtain macroporous inorganic solids with periodic pore structures (1-3). Interest in these materials has been driven to a large extent by proposed photonic applications. However, given their uniform pore structures, easily accessible surfaces, and efficient transport of guest molecules through the macropores, these materials are also promising candidates for catalyst supports. Macroporous silicates with hierarchical porosity are particularly interesting in this regard. They are obtained by dual templating methods, which produce structures with microporous or mesoporous walls surrounding the larger void spaces. This talk will discuss synthetic and structural aspects of macroporous silicates and other oxides, as well as the preparation of surface-modified macroporous supports which have been tested as catalysts in epoxidation reactions.