Functionalized interconnected porous materials for heterogeneous catalysis, energy conversion and storage applications: Recent advances and future perspectives

Interconnected porous materials have recently emerged as hybrid porous materials, comprising (meso/micro)pores with interconnected (micro/meso)porous walls. Benefiting from structural, morphological, and geometrical properties, interconnected porous materials are endowed with high porosity, specific surface area, mass transfer capacity, tailored pore sizes, volume and shape compatibility. These hybrid materials can be synthesized and further functionalized into a wide range of nanomaterials by either modifying conventional strategies or involving novel strategies such as pillared-layer assembly, defect-formation and/or the use of structure-directing agents. Owing to their exceptional properties, functionalized materials have already exhibited remarkable potential in various practical applications including reduction, sensing, purification, detection of gases, harvesting, conversion, and storage of energy, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, chemical synthesis, as well as non-automotive applications. A brief description of recent advancements in catalysis and energy conversion/storage applications of functionalized interconnected materials as well as prospects is provided in this contribution.