A new unified model of nanoporous materials, based on a relationship b
etween void fraction and structure, is introduced. The reduction of th
e complex pore system to a single void and the dense framework compone
nts to a single dense shell is shown to help in revealing the system o
f organization determining the structures of materials such as zeolite
s, clay minerals, layered compounds, and bioinorganic solids. Examples
are given that demonstrate the use of the model as a predictive tool
and provide insights into previously unsolved problems.