Monolithic silica exhibiting a trimodal, hierarchical pore structure has successfully been prepared via sol−gel-processing. Monolithic bodies with interconnected macropores in the micrometer range are a result of controlled phase separation and gelation kinetics, whereas textural mesopores in the 10−20 nm range originate from voids between particles. Furthermore, the particles exhibit internal mesoporosity with pore diameters in the 2−4 nm range originating from supramolecular templating by the surfactant. Poly(ethylene glycol) has been used together with alkylammonium surfactants to control the particle aggregation and internal structure, respectively. The present work sheds light on the mechanism of formation of the complex framework architectures and the application potential of the material.

Enhancing the stability of perovskite solar cells is crucial to the deployment of this technology. Carbon-based materials are promising candidates for providing long-term stable perovskite solar cells suitable for commercialization.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as a renewable and biodegradable nanomaterial have wide application value. In this work, CNCs were extracted from bleached chemical pulp using two stages of isolation (i.e. formic acid (FA) hydrolysis and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) mediated oxidation) under mild conditions. In the first stage, FA was used to remove hemicellulose, swell cellulose fibers, and release CNCs. The FA could be readily recovered and reused. In the second stage, the CNCs isolated by FA were further modified by TEMPO-mediated oxidation to increase the surface charge of CNCs. It was found that the modified CNCs with more ordered crystal structure and higher surface charge had better redispersibility and higher viscosity in aqueous phase. Therefore, the modified CNCs could be more effective when used as rheology modifier in the fields of water based coating, paint, food etc.