Mesoporous oxides: a versatile platform for Li-based batteries.
Galo Soler Illia
Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
 
Mesoporous materials are created by combining sol-gel synthesis and self-assembly of supramolecular templates. A wide palette of inorganic and hybrid organic-inorganic frameworks with a variety of composition and pore sizes can be obtained, shaped as powders, thin films or monoliths. The overall properties of these multifunctional pore systems are tuned by the pore size and geometry, wall composition and chemical-nanoscopic functions contained in the pore surface or volume. After few synthesis steps, complex materials presenting a wealth of interesting electronic, optical and chemical controlled features can be produced.

Well-defined monodisperse sized pores act as nanoreactors, or nanocavities with controlled environment constituting a robust "nanofacility" for applications in catalysis, separation, sensing or electroactive components. The production of accessible mesoporous oxides (MPO) modified by organic functional groups, polymers or nanoparticles has been thoroughly explored. MPO constitute a platform with prospective applications for advanced integrated devices. In the particular case of transition-metal based MPO, the high surface area available, the tailored pore confinement and the possibility of tuning the inorganic wall nature presents interesting perspectives for Li insertion. In this vein, several MPO such as TiO2, MnO2 or Co3O4 based electrodes have been produced.

In this presentation, we will show selected examples of the chemical strategies to produce and process MPO as thin films or membranes, and illustrate with electrode applications.
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