Biobased ordered porous materials in the nano-to microscales
Yeedo Chun, Yeling Zhu, Cosima Stubenrauch, Yi Lu, Orlando J. Rojas
Abstract
Ordered porous materials (OPMs) are defined according to pore size; ordered macropores (>50 nm) govern transport of fluids, while mesopores (>2 nm, <50 nm) and micropores (<2 nm, IUPAC definitions) control molecular or ionic interactions. The growing importance of sustainable materials has incentivized the development of biobased OPMs (bioOPMs) with pores in the respective size ranges of 0.3 nm – 9 nm and 1 μm – 500 μm. Synthesizing bioOPMs typically involves aqueous solutions and suspensions which require in-depth understanding of biobased precursor/water interactions. Therefore, templating based on liquid foams, breath-figure, and micelles are emerging approaches towards ordered assemblies, whose solidity and consolidation develop by the removal of water. This review describes recent developments in the design and utilization of bioOPMs, particularly those produced by water-based templating. Notable exceptions to water-based synthesis and gaps in the science and technology of bioOPMs are highlighted, with a perspective on future progress in the area.