Hierarchically nanostructured porous functional ceramics

We demonstrate here a self-formation phenomenon of hierarchy with multiple-scaled porosity. Macrochanneled structures, labelled as CMI-7, with openings ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 microns and wormhole-like mesoporous walls with various ceramic compositions, such as ZrO2, TiO2, Al 2O3, Y2O3, ZrO2-SiO 2, ZrO2-Tio2, ZrO2-Y 2O3,..., aluminosilicates, aluminophosphates, silicoaluminophosphates, metallophosphates, can be prepared by just controlling the hydrolysis and polycondensation rates of the pre-selected ceramic sources. The macrochannels (funnel-like or straight) are well parallel each other and perpendicular to the tangent of the particles' surface. These hierarchical porous ceramics can be used in catalysis, separation and for immobilization of biological molecules and even microorganisms for filtration and bioreactor applications.