Fabrication of Metal and Metal Oxide Sponges by Self-Bubbled Triton X-45 Hydrogel Templates

Triton X-45 was used as a sacrificial template to synthesize macroporous Ag, Au, or CuO monoliths via thermal treatment. Continuous networks of pores with sizes varied from 100 nm to 6 μm can be prepared through the use of additives such as dextran, silica nanoparticles, and the swelling agent, 1,3,5 trimethylbenzene (TMB), suggesting that the use of Triton X-45 gel offers a versatile route to the preparation of intact inorganic structures with controllable morphology.