Predictable Shrinkage during the Precise Design of Porous Materials and Nanomaterials

The advent of ordered porous materials and nanomaterials with controlled porosity has opened new frontiers in the field of materials chemistry. Materials with ordered micro-, meso-, and macropores, including hierarchical pores, provide exceptional functions that make them suitable for use in a wide variety of advanced device materials, media for electrochemical phenomena, and components for sophisticated functional products. In the fabrication of ordered porous structures that would enhance the function of materials, the shrinkage of frameworks plays a vital role in the formation of unique structures of porous materials and nanomaterials. To reveal the role of isotropic and anisotropic shrinkages in the process of pore construction, this review provides an overview of previous experiments that have focused on such framework shrinkage of highly porous materials prepared using organic templates and further assesses how shrinkage (isotropic for particles and anisotropic for films) are fascinating for porous materials design. This type of study will stimulate new strategies regarding the emerging challenges and opportunities to utilize high-grade and predictable design for obtaining nanomaterials including unique porous materials of relevance in multiple areas including energy.