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Advances in Porous Materials: Synthesis, Characterisations and Applications (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Porous Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 9378

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning 530021, China
Interests: catalysis; nanoporous materials; noble metal nanomaterials; cancer therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
Interests: porous materials; energy storage and conversion; dealloying; metallic glass; high entropy alloy; battery; light metals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Interests: catalysis; sensing; piezoelectric; nano–bio interaction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Porous materials have shown great potential in catalysis, biosensor and biomedical, energy storage and conversion, aerospace, and architecture applications owing to their high surface area, low density, and high specific strength. Porous materials have the structural feature of continuous interconnected porosity, which benefits the transport of electrons, ions, and mass. The chemical compositions of porous materials are well-controlled and diversified and include metals, ceramics, and carbon-based materials. As a result, the development of porous materials is quickly becoming important. An increasing number of researchers are working from different perspectives to conduct fundamental research on various applications.

This Special Issue focuses on recent advances in various porous materials. Research areas include but are not limited to novel synthetic strategies, advanced characterization skills, theoretical calculation methods, and various applications. We encourage you to submit a manuscript to this Special Issue. Original research papers and review articles are welcome. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Weiqing Zhang
Prof. Dr. Zhifeng Wang
Dr. Yichao Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • porous metals
  • metallic foam
  • carbon
  • dealloying
  • mechanical property
  • energy storage and conversion
  • catalysis
  • actuation
  • calculation and simulation

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 6457 KiB  
Article
Green Synthesis of Coal Gangue-Derived NaX Zeolite for Enhanced Adsorption of Cu2+ and CO2
by Yanshuang Chen, Yilin Chen, Hanqi Xu, Wenqi Zhao, Guodong Feng and Chunhui Xiao
Materials 2025, 18(7), 1443; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18071443 - 25 Mar 2025
Viewed by 222
Abstract
The accumulation of coal gangue (CG), a byproduct of coal mining, poses severe environmental challenges. This study presents a green strategy to convert CG into high-value NaX zeolite via an alkali fusion–hydrothermal method. Through orthogonal experiments, the optimal synthesis conditions (solid–liquid ratio 1:8, [...] Read more.
The accumulation of coal gangue (CG), a byproduct of coal mining, poses severe environmental challenges. This study presents a green strategy to convert CG into high-value NaX zeolite via an alkali fusion–hydrothermal method. Through orthogonal experiments, the optimal synthesis conditions (solid–liquid ratio 1:8, crystallization temperature 110 °C, time 12 h) were identified, yielding NaX zeolite with exceptional crystallinity (98%), specific surface area (703.5 m2/g), and pore volume (0.28 cm3/g). Comprehensive characterization (XRD, SEM-EDS, BET, etc.) confirmed its structural integrity and thermal stability. The synthesized zeolite exhibited remarkable adsorption capacities for Cu2+ (185.35 mg/g) and CO2 (5.51 mmol/g), following the Langmuir isotherm model. This work not only addresses gangue disposal challenges but also demonstrates a cost-effective route for producing high-performance adsorbents, aligning with circular economy and carbon neutrality goals. Full article
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14 pages, 3722 KiB  
Article
Regulation of TS-1 Zeolite with Small Particle Size by Colloidal Silicon Seed-Induced Synthesis and Application in Oxidative Desulfurization
by Tieqiang Ren, Yue Sun, Yujia Wang, Lulu Wang, Qian Yu, Lisheng Liang, Xianming Kong and Haiyan Wang
Materials 2024, 17(23), 5722; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17235722 - 22 Nov 2024
Viewed by 662
Abstract
The dosages of colloidal silicon seeds in the seed-induced synthesis of TS-1 zeolites were investigated in detail. The characterization results revealed that the colloidal silicon seeds not only reduced the particle sizes but also promoted the incorporation of titanium atoms into the framework [...] Read more.
The dosages of colloidal silicon seeds in the seed-induced synthesis of TS-1 zeolites were investigated in detail. The characterization results revealed that the colloidal silicon seeds not only reduced the particle sizes but also promoted the incorporation of titanium atoms into the framework of TS-1 zeolites as prepared. SEM images and particle size distribution (PSD) confirmed that the particle sizes of TS-1 zeolite could be effectively reduced to about 150 nm. The lattice plane [2 1 0] and [0 2 0] of 7.0-Seed-TS-1 zeolite were well exposed, as observed by the HRTEM images. It is worth noting that the ratio of non-framework Ti atoms incorporated onto the surface of TS-1 zeolites increased slightly to 0.11% by XPS. By regulating the dosage of colloidal Si seeds and promoting rapid nucleation, the size of the crystals could be easily tuned, and then the resulting high external specific surface area and pore volume ensured the reactant accessibility to the active site. The TS-1 zeolites regulated by the 5.0~7.0% dosages of colloidal silicon seeds possessed high external specific surface areas (148.1 m2/g and 130.9 m2/g) and small particle sizes (about 150 nm). The oxidative desulfurization of 500 ppm DBT by 7.0-Seed-TS-1 zeolite could reach to 100%. Full article
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14 pages, 8825 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Structural Modulation of Nanoporous Copper Films by Magnetron Sputtering and One-Step Dealloying
by Jinglei Li, Bin Yu, Yunfei Ran, Yalong Liu, Xiangyu Fei, Jiameng Sun, Fuquan Tan, Guanhua Cheng, Ying Zhang, Jingyu Qin and Zhonghua Zhang
Materials 2024, 17(23), 5705; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17235705 - 21 Nov 2024
Viewed by 809
Abstract
Nanoporous copper (np-Cu) has attracted much more attention due to its lower cost compared to other noble metals and high functionality in practical use. Herein, Al100−xCux(x = 13–88 at.%) precursor films with thicknesses of 0.16–1.1 μm were fabricated by [...] Read more.
Nanoporous copper (np-Cu) has attracted much more attention due to its lower cost compared to other noble metals and high functionality in practical use. Herein, Al100−xCux(x = 13–88 at.%) precursor films with thicknesses of 0.16–1.1 μm were fabricated by varying magnetron co-sputtering parameters. Subsequently, utilizing a one-step dealloying strategy, a series of np-Cu films with ligament sizes ranging from 11.4–19.0 nm were synthesized. The effects of precursor composition and substrate temperature on the microstructure of np-Cu films were investigated. As the atomic ratio of Cu increases from 15 to 34, the np-Cu film detached from the substrate gradually transforms into a bi-continuous ligament-channel structure that is well bonded to the substrate. Furthermore, the novel bi-layer hierarchical np-Cu films were successfully prepared based on single-layer nanoporous films. Our findings not only contribute to the systematic understanding of the modification of the morphology and structure of np-Cu films but also offer a valuable framework for the design and fabrication of other non-noble nanoporous metals with tailored properties. Full article
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16 pages, 6462 KiB  
Article
Deposition of CdSe Nanocrystals in Highly Porous SiO2 Matrices—In Situ Growth vs. Infiltration Methods
by Raktim Baruah, Munira Dilshad, Marco Diegel, Jan Dellith, Jonathan Plentz, Andreas Undisz, Adriana Szeghalmi and Maria Wächtler
Materials 2024, 17(17), 4379; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17174379 - 5 Sep 2024
Viewed by 2398
Abstract
Embedding quantum dots into porous matrices is a very beneficial approach for generating hybrid nanostructures with unique properties. In this contribution we explore strategies to dope nanoporous SiO2 thin films made by atomic layer deposition and selective wet chemical etching with precise [...] Read more.
Embedding quantum dots into porous matrices is a very beneficial approach for generating hybrid nanostructures with unique properties. In this contribution we explore strategies to dope nanoporous SiO2 thin films made by atomic layer deposition and selective wet chemical etching with precise control over pore size with CdSe quantum dots. Two distinct strategies were employed for quantum dot deposition: in situ growth of CdSe nanocrystals within the porous matrix via successive ionic layer adsorption reaction, and infiltration of pre-synthesized quantum dots. To address the impact of pore size, layers with 10 nm and 30 nm maximum pore diameter were used as the matrix. Our results show that though small pores are potentially accessible for the in situ approach, this strategy lacks controllability over the nanocrystal quality and size distribution. To dope layers with high-quality quantum dots with well-defined size distribution and optical properties, infiltration of preformed quantum dots is much more promising. It was observed that due to higher pore volume, 30 nm porous silica shows higher loading after treatment than the 10 nm porous silica matrix. This can be related to a better accessibility of the pores with higher pore size. The amount of infiltrated quantum dots can be influenced via drop-casting of additional solvents on a pre-drop-casted porous matrix as well as via varying the soaking time of a porous matrix in a quantum dot solution. Luminescent quantum dots deposited via this strategy keep their luminescent properties, and the resulting thin films with immobilized quantum dots are suited for integration into optoelectronic devices. Full article
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11 pages, 4337 KiB  
Article
Reactive Synthesis for Porous (Mo2/3Y1/3)2AlC Ceramics through Mo, Y, Al and Graphite Powders
by Siwei Tan, Gan Xiao, Baogang Wang, Kui Yu, Jie Li, Wenkai Jiang, Heng Zhang, Xuejin Yang and Junsheng Yang
Materials 2024, 17(13), 3272; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17133272 - 2 Jul 2024
Viewed by 980
Abstract
Through an activation reaction sintering method, porous (Mo2/3Y1/3)2AlC ceramics were prepared by Mo, Y, Al, and graphite powders as raw materials. The phase composition, microstructure, element distribution, and pore structure characteristics were comprehensively studied using X-ray diffraction [...] Read more.
Through an activation reaction sintering method, porous (Mo2/3Y1/3)2AlC ceramics were prepared by Mo, Y, Al, and graphite powders as raw materials. The phase composition, microstructure, element distribution, and pore structure characteristics were comprehensively studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Archimedes method, and bubble point method. A detailed investigation was conducted on the influence of sintering temperature on the phase composition. Possible routes of phase transition and pore formation mechanisms during the sintering process were provided. The experimental results reveal that at 650–850 °C, transition metals react with aluminum, forming aluminum-containing intermetallics and a small amount of carbides. At 850–1250 °C, transition metals collaborate with graphite, producing transition metal carbides. Then, at 1250–1450 °C, these aluminum intermetallics interact with transition metal carbides and remaining unreacted Y, Al, and C, yielding the final product (Mo2/3Y1/3) 2AlC. Simultaneously, the pore structure alters correspondingly with the solid-phase reaction at different reaction temperatures. Full article
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Review

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27 pages, 3994 KiB  
Review
Machine Learning in Computational Design and Optimization of Disordered Nanoporous Materials
by Aleksey Vishnyakov
Materials 2025, 18(3), 534; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18030534 - 24 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1043
Abstract
This review analyzes the current practices in the data-driven characterization, design and optimization of disordered nanoporous materials with pore sizes ranging from angstroms (active carbon and polymer membranes for gas separation) to tens of nm (aerogels). While the machine learning (ML)-based prediction and [...] Read more.
This review analyzes the current practices in the data-driven characterization, design and optimization of disordered nanoporous materials with pore sizes ranging from angstroms (active carbon and polymer membranes for gas separation) to tens of nm (aerogels). While the machine learning (ML)-based prediction and screening of crystalline, ordered porous materials are conducted frequently, materials with disordered porosity receive much less attention, although ML is expected to excel in the field, which is rich with ill-posed problems, non-linear correlations and a large volume of experimental results. For micro- and mesoporous solids (active carbons, mesoporous silica, aerogels, etc.), the obstacles are mostly related to the navigation of the available data with transferrable and easily interpreted features. The majority of published efforts are based on the experimental data obtained in the same work, and the datasets are often very small. Even with limited data, machine learning helps discover non-evident correlations and serves in material design and production optimization. The development of comprehensive databases for micro- and mesoporous materials with low-level structural and sorption characteristics, as well as automated synthesis/characterization protocols, is seen as the direction of efforts for the immediate future. This paper is written in a language readable by a chemist unfamiliar with the data science specifics. Full article
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20 pages, 7916 KiB  
Review
Porous High-Entropy Oxide Anode Materials for Li-Ion Batteries: Preparation, Characterization, and Applications
by Lishan Dong, Yihe Tian, Chang Luo, Weimin Zhao, Chunling Qin and Zhifeng Wang
Materials 2024, 17(7), 1542; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17071542 - 28 Mar 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2490
Abstract
High-entropy oxides (HEOs), as a new type of single-phase solid solution with a multi-component design, have shown great potential when they are used as anodes in lithium-ion batteries due to four kinds of effects (thermodynamic high-entropy effect, the structural lattice distortion effect, the [...] Read more.
High-entropy oxides (HEOs), as a new type of single-phase solid solution with a multi-component design, have shown great potential when they are used as anodes in lithium-ion batteries due to four kinds of effects (thermodynamic high-entropy effect, the structural lattice distortion effect, the kinetic slow diffusion effect, and the electrochemical “cocktail effect”), leading to excellent cycling stability. Although the number of articles on the study of HEO materials has increased significantly, the latest research progress in porous HEO materials in the lithium-ion battery field has not been systematically summarized. This review outlines the progress made in recent years in the design, synthesis, and characterization of porous HEOs and focuses on phase transitions during the cycling process, the role of individual elements, and the lithium storage mechanisms disclosed through some advanced characterization techniques. Finally, the future outlook of HEOs in the energy storage field is presented, providing some guidance for researchers to further improve the design of porous HEOs. Full article
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