Fabrication of three-dimensionally ordered mesoporous zirconia using nanoporous carbon as a scaffold

Zirconia exhibits important properties such as catalytic activity, ionic conductivity, and dielectric properties. Nanoporous zirconia, with its high surface area and large pore volume, is attracting attention for catalysts and separation materials. Precise pore size control is crucial for the applications; however, achieving control within the range of tens of nm remains difficult. In this study, znanoporous carbon was used as a nanoscale scaffold onto which Zr species were deposited with nanometer thickness, followed by calcination for carbon removal and zirconia crystallization, thereby yielding ordered nanoporous zirconias. This process is crucial for forminghighly ordered nanoporous zirconias with improved pore size control and uniformity.