Templated Synthesis for Nanostructured Materials

AbstractNanostructured solids with controlled porosities and morphologies are important for catalysis, separation, optics, electronics, energy storage, drug delivery, and so on. In order to design nanostructured solids, templated synthesis, using various molecules, molecular assemblies, and porous materials as templates, has been developed. In this chapter, preparative methods for nanostructured solids by templating are reviewed. In typical cases, metal cations are used for the structural control of metal oxides with various frameworks. Organic molecules are used as templates of microporous materials such as zeolites. Assemblies of surfactants or block copolymers are used as templates of mesoporous materials. Colloidal crystals consisting of latex particles or colloidal silica are used as templates of three‐dimensionally ordered macroporous materials. Emulsions, solvent droplets, ice, and biominerals are also used as templates of macroporous materials. These processes are classified according to templates, framework components, solidification methods, and removal methods of templates. Morphologies are also controlled as particles, rods or nanowires, and films by the deposition of materials in shaped nanospace or by sol–gel methods. These methods are combined for the control of hierarchical structures containing pores with different scales and/or controlled morphologies. Nanostructured materials are applied as catalysts, catalyst supports, photocatalysts, separation media, optical materials, secondary batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors, and so on. Templated synthesis is quite useful to control nanostructures, morphologies, and functions of solid‐state materials.