Porous materials have gained significant attention in the advanced materials industry due to their unique properties, including high surface area, tunable pore sizes, and low density. These materials are highly versatile and are used in various.
Types of Porous Materials
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Zeolites
Zeolites are crystalline aluminosilicates with a well-defined pore structure. Their high thermal stability and ion exchange are used in the chemical industry, zeolites are commonly used as catalysts in petrochemical refining and environmental applications to capture carbon dioxide. Moreover, zeolites have found applications in environmental protection, such as CO2 capture from the atmosphere and wastewater treatment (Kulprathipanja, 2010).
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Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
MOFs are hybrid materials made from metal ions and organic linkers, forming a highly porous structure. Due to their customizable pore sizes and surface functionalities, they are used for gas storage, catalysis, and drug delivery (Furukawa et al., 2013). Their flexibility in design makes them one of the most promising materials for future advanced technologies.
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Aerogels
Known as one of the lightest solid materials, aerogels are highly porous with extremely low densities. They are used in insulation, water purification, and lightweight structural materials in aerospace applications. Their unique property of trapping gases within their pores while being lightweight makes them efficient insulators (Pierre & Pajonk, 2002).
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Mesoporous Silica
Mesoporous silica materials are known for their large surface area and well-defined pore structure, making them ideal for drug delivery, biosensing, and catalysis. Their pore size can be tailored, and their surface can be functionalized to suit specific applications in the biomedical and chemical industries (Solomon, 2009).
Applications in Industry
- Catalysis: Zeolites and MOFs are extensively used in catalysis for chemical reactions, allowing more efficient and selective processes in industries like petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals (Li et al., 2012).
- Filtration: Porous materials are crucial in filtration systems, such as water purification using aerogels and mesoporous silica. Their ability to trap pollutants within their pores enhances the effectiveness of filtration systems (Hrubesh, 2001).
- Energy Storage: MOFs and other porous materials are being investigated for energy storage applications, especially in supercapacitors and fuel cells, due to their high surface area and ability to store gases (Liang et al., 2015).
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