Nonporous materials have nano-sized pores. High specific surface area and size and shape selectivity (size and shape Selectivity) are the most important features of these materials that have led to their widespread use in various industries, such as catalysts, water treatment and separation of pollutants. The development of properties and applications of these materials depends on the fabrication of nanoporous materials with optimal and controlled structures. In this paper, porous nanostructures and supermolecular chemistry are introduced in detail. Then, a number of common nanoporous materials, such as activated carbon, metal–organic frameworks and zeolites, then various types of mineral and organic nanoporous materials as well as methods of synthesis, characterization and applications of these materials will be studied in detail.

Deuterium is a crucial clean energy source required for nuclear fusion and is a future resource needed in various industries and scientific fields. However, it is not easy to enrich deuterium because the proportion of deuterium in the hydrogen mixture is scarce, at approximately 0.016%. Furthermore, the physical and chemical properties of the hydrogen mixture and deuterium are very similar. Therefore, the efficient separation of deuterium from hydrogen mixtures is often a significant challenge when using modern separation technologies. Recently, to effectively separate deuterium, studies utilizing the ‘Kinetic Quantum Sieving Effect (KQS)’ of porous materials are increasing. Therefore, in this review, two different strategies have been discussed for improving KQS efficiency for hydrogen isotope separation performance using nanoporous materials. One is the gating effect, which precisely controls the aperture locally by adjusting the temperature and pressure. The second is the breathing phenomenon, utilizing the volume change of the structure from closed system to open system. It has been reported that efficient hydrogen isotope separation is possible using these two methods, and each of these effects is described in detail in this review. In addition, a specific-isotope responsive system (e.g., 2nd breathing effect in MIL-53) has recently been discovered and is described here as well.

In this study, we developed a facile and template-free strategy for the preparation of activated porous carbon beads (APCBs) from polyacrylonitrile. The chemical activation with KOH was found to enhance the pore properties, such as specific surface area (SSA), pore volume, and pore area. The APCBs exhibited a large SSA of 1147.99 m2/g and a pore area of 131.73 m2/g. The APCB-based electrodes showed a good specific capacitance of 112 F/g at 1 A/g in a 6 M KOH electrolyte, and excellent capacitance retention of 100% at a current density of 5 A/g after 1000 cycles. Therefore, the APCBs prepared in this study can be applied as electrode materials for electric double-layer capacitors.

The porous carbons with high specific surface area and excellent electrochemical properties were prepared using three types of green needle coke as raw materials. Electrochemical performances of the porous carbons derived from different microstructure green needle coke were investigated. The XRD and Raman spectra demonstrated that the content of the ordered carbon microcrystals were decreased and the content of amorphous and cross-linked structure were increased in the porous carbons with comparison to the raw materials. The results of N2 adsorption–desorption analysis verified that the content of ordered microcrystalline structure in the raw materials evidently influence the specific surface area and pore size distribution of the porous carbons. The porous carbon with 1665 m2 g−1 specific surface area and 2.89 nm average pore size has shown that the specific capacitance was 288 F g−1 at the current density 1 A g−1. Furthermore, the capacity retention was 94.93% and the Coulombic efficiency was 92.87% after 5000 charge/discharge cycles.

Salacca peel-based porous carbon (SPPC) with high surface area (1945 m2 g−1) and large specific pore volume (1.68 cm3 g−1) was prepared by pre-carbonization and K2CO3 activation method. Based on the TGA results, it can be estimated that up to 70 wt% of sulfur-active materials could be infiltrated into the pores of SPPC to form SPPC/S composite cathode for LiS battery. The porous structure of SPPC could act as a buffer layer against volume expansion and minimize the shuttle effect due to the penetration of intermediate polysulfides during cycle tests. Optimization on sulfur loading (50, 60 and 70 wt%) in SPPCC/S composite was also investigated. It was found that the SPPC/S composites with 60 wt% of sulfur loading had the best electrochemical performances. With 60 wt% of sulfur loading, SPPC/S composite electrodes showed excellent electrochemical performances in terms of high initial specific discharge capacity of 1006 mAh g− 1 at 0.5 C and capacity retention of 71% until the 100th cycle. For both cases of low and high sulfur loading, they caused much worse electrochemical performances. Based on the experimental results, it can be concluded that porous carbons derived from the salacca peel were promising materials for sulfur loading in LiS battery.

The study presented in the article is focused on use of graphene obtained by novel microwave-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MECVD) method as a construction material for 3D porous structures—aerogels and sponges. MECVD graphene nanoplatelets-based aerogels were obtained by mixing MECVD graphene nanoplatelets and chitosan, dissolved in 3% acetic acid followed by its freeze drying and carbonization at 800° in inert medium. Surface morphology of aerogels was characterized by SEM. MECVD graphene nanoplatelets-based aerogels are characterized by a porous structure; they are superhydrophobic and possess high sorption capacity with regard to organic liquids of different densities. Polyurethane sponges coated with MECVD graphene can serve as an alternative to aerogels. The process of their obtaining is cheaper and less complicated. They were obtained by facile “dip-coating” method, modifying its surface to increase its hydrophobicity. The resulting sponges are superhydrophobic and superoleophilic, and demonstrate high rate of sorption of organic liquids and can be easily regenerated by squeezing. In addition, they can be used as a separating material in conjunction with vacuum system for continuous and selective collection of organic liquids from the surface of water.

The stereotype of flexible MOFs(Amino-MIL-53) and carbonized porous carbon prepared from renewable resources is successfully synthesized for CO2 reduction application. The textural properties of these microporous materials are investigated, and their CO2 storage capacity and separation performance are evaluated. Owing to the combined effects of CO2-Amino interaction and its flexibility, a CO2 uptake of 2.5 mmol g−1 is observed in Amino-MIL-53 at 20 bar 298 K. In contrast, CH4 uptake in Amino-MIL-53 is very low up to 20 bar, implying potential sorbent for CO2/CH4 separation. Carbonized samples contain a small quantity of metal residues(K, Ca, Mg, S), resulting in naturally doped porous carbon. Due to the trace metal, even higher CO2 uptake of 4.7 mmol g−1 is also observed at 20 bar 298 K. Furthermore, the CH4 storage capacity is 2.9 mmol g−1 at 298 K and 20 bar. To evaluate the CO2 separation performance, the selectivity based on ideal adsorption solution theory for CO2/CH4 binary mixtures on the presented porous materials is investigated.

Porous materials play a vital role in science and technology. The ability to control their pore structures at the atomic, molecular, and nanometer scales enable interactions with atoms, ions and molecules to occur throughout the bulk of the material, for practical applications. Three-dimensional (3D) porous carbon-based materials (e.g., graphene aerogels/hydrogels, sponges and foams) made of graphene or graphene oxide-based networks have attracted considerable attention because they offer low density, high porosity, large surface area, excellent electrical conductivity and stable mechanical properties. Water pollution and associated environmental issues have become a hot topic in recent years. Rapid industrialization has led to a massive increase in the amount of wastewater that industries discharge into the environment. Water pollution is caused by oil spills, heavy metals, dyes, and organic compounds released by industry, as well as via unpredictable accidents. In addition, water pollution is also caused by radionuclides released by nuclear disasters or leakage. This review presents an overview of the state-of-the-art synthesis methodologies of 3D porous graphene materials and highlights their synthesis for environmental applications. The various synthetic methods used to prepare these 3D materials are discussed, particularly template-free self-assembly methods, and template-directed methods. Some key results are summarized, where 3D graphene materials have been used for the adsorption of dyes, heavy metals, and radioactive materials from polluted environments.

Silicon alloys are considered promising anode active materials to replace Li-ion batteries by graphite powder, because they have a relatively high capacity of up to 4200 mAh/g, and are environmentally friendly and inexpensive ECO-materials. However, its poor charge/discharge properties, induced by cracking during cycles, constitute their most serious problem as anode electrode. In order to solve these problems, Si-Ge-Al alloys with porous structure are designed as anode alloy powders, to improve cycling stability. The alloys are melt-spun to obtain the rapidly solidified ribbons, and then ball-milled to make fine powders. The powders are etched using 1 M HCl solution, which gives the powders a porous structure by removing the element Al. Subsequently, in this study, the microstructures and the characteristics of the etched powders are evaluated for application as anode materials. As a result, the etched porous powder shows better electrochemical properties than as-milled Si-Ge-Al powder.

Monolithic carbon foams with hierarchical porosity were prepared from polyurethane templates and resol precursors. Mesoporosity was achieved through the use of soft templating with surfactant Pluronic F127, and macroporosity from the polyurethane foams was retained. Conditions to obtain high porosity materials were optimized. The best materials have high specific surface areas (380 and 582 m2 g–1, respectively) and high electrical conductivity, which make them good candidates for supports in sensors. These materials showed an almost linear dependence between the potential and the pH of aqueous solutions.

In olefin/paraffin separation process, new technology such as membrane separation process has been ever demanding for both economic and environmental reasons. facilitated olefin transport membrane, containing positively charged silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) by electron acceptor 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) as olefin carriers dispersed in poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), shows extremely high separation performance for propylene/propane mixtures. However, higher permeance is always demanding for practical applications. In this study, POSSs were added to PVP/Ag NPs/TCNQ membranes. Among various kinds of POSS, trisilanolisooctyl POSS showed higher permeance with a moderate selectivity. Therefore it is concluded that mesoporous POSS is an effective additive in improving the gas permeance.

단감을 재배하는 농가에서 저장성을 향상 시킬 수 있는 값싸고 쉬운 방법을 개발하기 위해 본 연구를 수행 했다. 농가 관행 LDPE 포장재 내에 동봉할 수 있는 천연소재(대나무활성숯, 왕겨숯, 겔라이트)를 선발하여 상온과 저온환경에서 가용성 고형물 함량, 경도, 식미, 부패도, 연화도의 변화를 1주일 또는 2주일 간격으로 조사 하였다. 대나무활성숯을 동봉한 LDPE 포장 방법이 단순 LDPE 포장 방법 보다 저장성 및 품질을 을 좋게 유지하였다. 대나무활성숯을 동봉한 LDPE 포장 방법은 관행 농법 농가와 유기 농법 농가 모두에서 장기 저장 시 그리고 유통 중 온도변화 시 저장성을 향상 시킬수 있는 값싸고, 손쉬운 방법으로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

구조모델의 하나인 Maxwell-Eucken(ME) 모델을 이용하여 불포화 다공성 매질의 유효열전도도를 예측할 수 있는 새로운 모델을 제시하였다. 제시된 모델은 기질, 물 그리고 공기가 각각 연속상으로 존재하는 경우에 해당하는 3개 ME모델의 선형조합으로 표현되며, 매질 내에서 각 성분의 상대적 연속성 정도를 나타내는 '연속성계수'의 개념을 도입하여 선형방정식의 계수로 이용하였다. 기질의 연속성계수는 공극률과 선형의 관계를, 물과 공기의 연속성계수는 포화도와 선형 또는 비선형의 관계를 갖는 것으로 가정하였다. 공극구조가 알려진 3개 시료에 대한 열전달 모사 결과와 3개 시료의 열전도도 실험 결과를 이용하여 제시된 모델의 신뢰성을 평가하였다. 6개 시료에 대한 모델 예측값의 결정계수(R2)는 선형모델의 경우 0.86-0.98, 비선형모델의 경우 0.88-0.99로 나타나 모델의 예측 신뢰도가 매우 높은 것으로 분석되었다. 또한, 6개 시료에 대한 분석 결과를 이용하여 기질의 연속성계수와 공극률과의 관계식을 제시하였다. 따라서 본 예측모델은 기질의 열전도도, 공극률 및 포화도로부터 불포화 다공성 매질의 유효열전도도를 계산하는 데 이용될 수 있다.

Active clays, Diatomite, bentonite and zeolite were used as porous materials for fabricating hygroscopic gypsum boards. Pohang active clay and Cheolwon diatomite showed excellent characteristics of moisture adsorption and desorption. These characteristics were caused by higher surface area and pore volume of porous materials. Moisture adsorption content of gypsum board with 10% active clay(P1) was 62.0 g/m2, and moisture desorption content was 50.2 g/m2. Moisture adsorption content of gypsum board with 10% diatomite(P) was 59.5 g/m2, and moisture desorption content was 49.0 g/m2. Moisture adsorption contents of gypsum boards with porous materials were higher than that moisture desorption contents of gypsum board without porous materials. Correlation coefficient between surface area and moisture adsorption content of gypsum boards was 0.98. Also, correlation coefficient between surface area and moisture desorption content of gypsum boards was 0.97. Moisture adsorption and desorption contents were influenced by surface area and pore volume of the gypsum boards, and surface area had a larger effect on moisture adsorption and desorption.

Porous carbon materials synthesized from various plant derived precursors i.e. seeds of [Castor (Ricinus communis), Soap nut (Sapindus sp.), Cashew-nut (Semecarpus anacardium), Jack fruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), Ambadi (Crotolaria juncea), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Bitter Almond (Prunus amygdalus), Sesamum (Sisamum indicum), Date-palm (Phoenix dactylifera),Canola (Brassica napus), Sunflower (Helianthus annulus)] and fibrous materials from [Corn stem- (Zea mays), Rice straw (Oryza sativa), Bamboo (Bombax bambusa) and Coconut fibers (Cocos nucifera)] were screened to make supercapacitor in 5M KOH solution. Carbon material obtained from Jack fruit seeds (92.0 F/g), Rice straw (83.0 F/g), Soap nut seeds (54.0 F/g), Castor seeds (44.34 F/g) and Bamboo (40.0 F/g) gave high capacitance value as compared to others. The magnitude of capacitance value was found to be inversely proportional to the scan rate of measurement. It is suggested that carbon material should possess large surface area and small pore size to get better value of capacitor. Moreover, the structure of carbon materials should be such that majority of pores are in the plane parallel to the plane of electrode and surface is fluffy like cotton ball.