Ice‐Templating: Integrative Ice Frozen Assembly to Tailor Pore Morphology of Energy Storage and Conversion Devices

Abstract

Ice-templating, also known as directional freezing or freeze-casting, features the tunability of microstructure, the wide applicability of functional nanomaterials, and the fabrication of multiscale well-controlled biomimetic materials. Recently, integrating ice-templating with other materials' processing technologies (such as, spraying, spinning, filtration, and hydrothermal), it has been investigated to tailor pore morphology of scaffolds for emerging applications. Such integration endows materials with various structures (cellular, dendritic, and lamellar) and dimensions (0D, 1D, 2D, and 3D), which opens up a new avenue for improving material properties and developing new materials. Herein, this review probes into the relationship of integrative ice frozen assembly with structure and describes the fundamental principles and synthesis strategies for preparing multi-scale materials with complex biomimetic structures via ice-templating. Focusing on ice crystal nucleation and growth, it summarizes the performance of ice-templating in constructing pore geometries. Additionally, the review analyzes in depth the correlation between microstructure and macromorphology of final scaffolds, highlighting the application of integrative ice frozen assembly in electrochemical energy storage and conversion, and prospects for future research directions for this field.

Wood-inspired dual-scale directional channel cellulose bioreactors with high mass transfer efficiency for continuous flow catalytic green conversion

“…The larger the temperature gradient in the freeze casting stage, the faster the growth of ice crystals and the smaller the diameter of the obtained channels. 22 This result was consistent with the SEM results. It was further verified using pore size analysis (Fig.…”

Polydopamine-Coated Polymer Nanofibers for In Situ Protein Loading and Controlled Release

“…Ice templating is a versatile approach to fabricating nanofibers for the applications of drug delivery, tissue engineering, and implants. , Ice templating can be readily applied to aqueous solutions or suspensions where ice is formed under freezing conditions, excluding solutions or particles from the growing ice crystals. The subsequent removal of ice crystals, usually by freeze-drying, generates highly interconnected porous structures. , With the advantages of tunable microstructure, diverse employment of materials, and easy scalability, ice templating has drawn extensive attention and can be an effective method for large-scale nanofiber preparations. ,, More importantly, when a very dilute polymer solution is employed, polymeric nanofibers can be formed, with the fiber diameter impacted mainly by the polymer concentration or freezing condition…”

“…The subsequent removal of ice crystals, usually by freeze-drying, generates highly interconnected porous structures. 12,13 With the advantages of tunable microstructure, diverse employment of materials, and easy scalability, ice templating has drawn extensive attention and can be an effective method for largescale nanofiber preparations. 12,14,15 More importantly, when a very dilute polymer solution is employed, polymeric nanofibers can be formed, with the fiber diameter impacted mainly by the polymer concentration or freezing condition.…”

Alumina Incorporation in Self-Supported Poly(ethylenimine) Sorbents for Direct Air Capture

“…In this work, PEI undergoes a cross-linking reaction with poly­(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE) to undergo phase separation. Ice-templating has gained widespread attention over the years owing to the tunability of the macropore size and distribution, depending on parameters such as the temperature of cross-linking, rate of freezing, and direction of freezing . Further, the method has the advantage of a simple single-pot synthesis with water as a green solvent.…”

“…Ice-templating has gained widespread attention over the years owing to the tunability of the macropore size and distribution, depending on parameters such as the temperature of cross-linking, rate of freezing, and direction of freezing. 47 Further, the method has the advantage of a simple single-pot synthesis with water as a green solvent. In two previous studies, self-supported PEI sorbents were synthesized, focusing on post-combustion flue gas capture and understanding the effect of associated acid gas impurity on the sorbent performance.…”