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

Journal Article · · Nature Communications
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms3015· OSTI ID:1623916
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [4];  [1]
  1. Univ. of St. Andrews, Scotland (United Kingdom). School of Chemistry. EaStCHEM
  2. Fudan Univ., Shanghai (China). Shanghai Key Lab. of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP). Dept. of Environmental Science and Engineering; Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Chemical Sciences Division
  3. Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
  4. Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Chemical Sciences Division

Porous solids have an important role in addressing some of the major energy-related problems facing society. Here we describe a porous solid, a-MnO2, 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 a-MnO2, 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 a-MnO2 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 LiMn2O4 with a hierarchical pore structure.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division; National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); Foundation of the Ministry of Education in China
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725; 21007011; 21177028; 20100071120012
OSTI ID:
1623916
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Vol. 4, Issue 1; ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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