Nanoporous colloids: Building blocks for a new generation of structured materials

Abstract

Porous colloidal particles have recently attracted a renewed interest in both fundamental and applied research. The large internal surface area and adsorbent potential of porous particles have led to their widespread application in diverse fields, including sensing, catalysis, drug delivery, and separations. This review highlights recent advancements in the adsorption of molecular species and nanoparticles into nanoporous colloids, and the subsequent formation of colloidal composites, particle replicas, and ordered particle arrays. We begin with a brief introduction to the synthesis of porous colloidal particles that are commonly employed, followed by a survey of the use of porous particles ..