SYNTHESIS OF MACROPOROUS MINERALS WITH HIGHLY ORDERED 3-DIMENSIONAL ARRAYS OF SPHEROIDAL VOIDS

Titania, zirconia, and alumina samples with periodic three-dimensional arrays of macropores were synthesized from the corresponding metal al koxides, using latex spheres as templates. In a fast, single-step reac tion, the monomeric alkoxide precursors permeate the array of bulk pol ystyrene spheres and condense in air at room temperature. Close packed , open-pore structures with 320- to 360-nanometer voids are obtained a fter calcination of the organic component at 575 degrees C. The exampl es presented demonstrate the compositional diversity possible with thi s technique. The resulting highly structured ceramics could have appli cations in areas ranging from quantum electronics ro photocatalysis to battery materials.