A solid with a hierarchical tetramodal micro-meso-macro pore size distribution

Yu Ren; Zhen Ma; Russell E. Morris; Zheng Liu; Feng Jiao; Sheng Dai; Peter G. Bruce

doi:10.1038/ncomms3015

A solid with a hierarchical tetramodal micro-meso-macro pore size distribution

Yu Ren, Zhen Ma, Russell E. Morris, Zheng Liu, Feng Jiao, Sheng Dai, Peter G. Bruce

Chemical Sciences Division

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

98 Scopus citations

Abstract

Porous solids have an important role in addressing some of the major energy-related problems facing society. Here we describe a porous solid, α-MnO 2, with a hierarchical tetramodal pore size distribution spanning the micro-, meso- and macro pore range, centred at 0.48, 4.0, 18 and 70 nm. The hierarchical tetramodal structure is generated by the presence of potassium ions in the precursor solution within the channels of the porous silica template; the size of the potassium ion templates the microporosity of α-MnO 2, whereas their reactivity with silica leads to larger mesopores and macroporosity, without destroying the mesostructure of the template. The hierarchical tetramodal pore size distribution influences the properties of α-MnO 2 as a cathode in lithium batteries and as a catalyst, changing the behaviour, compared with its counterparts with only micropores or bimodal micro/mesopores. The approach has been extended to the preparation of LiMn 2 O 4 with a hierarchical pore structure.

Original language	English
Article number	2015
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms3015
State	Published - 2013

Funding

Y.R. is indebted to the Russell Trust for a travel grant. Z.M. is grateful for the financial support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 21007011 and 21177028) and the PhD programmes Foundation of the Ministry of Education in China (grant number 20100071120012). F.J. would like to acknowledge the startup fund from the University of Delaware. S.D. is sponsored by the Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, US Department of Energy. P.G.B. is grateful to the EPSRC, including SUPERGEN and the programme grant ‘Nanoionics’ for financial support.

Funders	Funder number
U.S. Department of Energy
Basic Energy Sciences
Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council	EP/K025112/1, EP/H003819/1
National Natural Science Foundation of China	21007011, 21177028
Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China	20100071120012

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AU - Dai, Sheng

AU - Bruce, Peter G.

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AB - Porous solids have an important role in addressing some of the major energy-related problems facing society. Here we describe a porous solid, α-MnO 2, with a hierarchical tetramodal pore size distribution spanning the micro-, meso- and macro pore range, centred at 0.48, 4.0, 18 and 70 nm. The hierarchical tetramodal structure is generated by the presence of potassium ions in the precursor solution within the channels of the porous silica template; the size of the potassium ion templates the microporosity of α-MnO 2, whereas their reactivity with silica leads to larger mesopores and macroporosity, without destroying the mesostructure of the template. The hierarchical tetramodal pore size distribution influences the properties of α-MnO 2 as a cathode in lithium batteries and as a catalyst, changing the behaviour, compared with its counterparts with only micropores or bimodal micro/mesopores. The approach has been extended to the preparation of LiMn 2 O 4 with a hierarchical pore structure.

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A solid with a hierarchical tetramodal micro-meso-macro pore size distribution

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