Nanoporous grapheme-based materials have been widely recognized as an emerging and promising membrane material or selective layer of membranes to be used in separation [1] and purification applications [2, 3]. For instance, a pioneered modeling work reported by Cohen-Tanugi and Grossman [4, 5] shows that a graphene sheet with subnanometer pores can provide superior water transport rate and high...

Nanoporous frameworks are polymeric materials built from rigid molecules, which give rise to their nanoporous structures with applications in gas sorption and storage, catalysis and others. Conceptually new applications could emerge, should these beneficial properties be manipulated by external stimuli in a reversible manner. One approach to render nanoporous frameworks responsive to external s...

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) appears to be uniquely suited for coating substrates with ultrahigh aspect ratios (> or similar 10(3)), including nanoporous solids. Here, we study the ALD of Cu and Cu3N on the inner surfaces of low-density nanoporous silica aerogel monoliths. Results show that Cu depth profiles in nanoporous monoliths are limited not only by Knudsen diffusion of heavier precursor...

The characteristics of nanoporous inorganic coatings on implants or on implantable devices are reviewed. The commonly used nanoporous materials, such as aluminum oxide (Al(2)O(3)), titanium oxide (TiO(2)) and porous silicon are highlighted with illustrative examples. The critical issues for sustained release systems are examined and the elution profiles of nanoporous coatings are discussed. The...

Nanoporous and nonporous three-dimensional silicon nanowire arrays (SiNWAs) prepared with metal-assisted chemical etching method were investigated as photocatalysts in dye photodegradation systematically. In comparison with nonporous SiNWAs, nanoporous SiNWAs have higher surface area, larger pore volume, stronger light absorption and better photocatalytic activity. After the HF-treatment, the p...

Recently discovered synthesis of unusual curved nanoporous silica shapes, such as rods, discoids, spheres, tubes, and hollow helicoids, have brought forth the problem of understanding the formation mechanism. Knowledge of such mechanism may lead to the ability to control the nanoporous shapes. This is important in a variety of applications and new technologies where nanostructure and geometry d...

Although surfaces or, more precisely, the surface atomic and electronic structure, determine the way materials interact with their environment, the influence of surface chemistry on the bulk of the material is generally considered to be small. However, in the case of high surface area materials such as nanoporous solids, surface properties can start to dominate the overall material behavior. Th...

Magnesiothermic reduction can directly convert SiO2 into Si nanostructures. Despite intense efforts, efficient fabrication of highly nanoporous silicon by Mg still remains a significant challenge due to the exothermic reaction nature. By employing table salt (NaCl) as a heat scavenger for the magnesiothermic reduction, we demonstrate an effective route to convert diatom (SiO2) and SiO2/GeO2 int...

Nanostructured Si as the high efficiency photoelectrode material is hard to keep stable in aqueous for water splitting. Capping a passivation layer on the surface of Si is an effective way of protecting from oxidation. However, it is still not clear in the different mechanisms and effects between insulating oxide materials and oxide semiconductor materials as passivation layers. Here, we compar...