The Synthetic Strategy for Developing Mesoporous Materials through Nanocasting Route

Abstract

Nanocasting is a powerful methodology for creating ordered mesoporous materials that are more diffi cult to synthesize by conventional processes. Synthesis starts with fabrication of inorganic/carbon precursors inside the nanospaces of a mesoporous hard template, which is used as a true mold to produce the mesoporous materials with controllable pore size, morphology of the network. Aft er fabrication inside the nanospaces, the template framework is selectively removed and the mesoporous ordered inorganic/organic material is obtained. In this chapter, a comprehensive literature survey for fabrication of mesoporous materials via mesoporous hard template, e.g., SBA-15, KIT-6, and mesoporous carbon, is presented. First two sections are limited to the basic understanding of nanocasting methodology. Th e later three sections comprise a review of works based on mesoporous silica/carbon template, which has been nurturing till date. A wide range of studies for synthesis of several inorganic compounds range from metal oxides, metal sulfi des, metal carbide phosphate, and ceramics is covered.