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Pores for thought: The channels of alumina membranes were used as templates for mesoporous silica. The interface between the precursor of the mesoporous material and the alumina wall plays a major role in the alignment of the mesopores. Novel membrane materials are obtained if hexagonal pores are aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the alumina pores (see picture).
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Guido Kickelbick (2004) studied this question.
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