We have prepared the first crystalline and 3D periodically ordered mesoporous quaternary semiconductor photocatalyst in an evaporation-induced self-assembly assisted soft-templating process. Using lab synthesized triblock-terpolymer poly(isoprene-b-styrene-b-ethylene oxide) (ISO) a highly ordered 3D interconnected alternating gyroid morphology was achieved exhibiting near and long-range order, as evidenced by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and electron microscopy (TEM/SEM). Moreover, we reveal the formation process on the phase-pure construction of the material's pore-walls with its high crystallinity, which proceeds along a highly stable W compound, by both in situ and ex situ analyses, including X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The resulting photocatalyst CsTaWO with its optimum balance between surface area and ordered mesoporosity ultimately shows superior hydrogen evolution rates over its non-ordered reference in photocatalytic hydrogen production. This work will help to advance new self-assembly preparation pathways towards multi-element multifunctional compounds for different applications, including improved battery and sensor electrode materials.

Pure and Nb‐doped TiO2 photocatalysts with highly ordered alternating gyroid architecture and well‐controllable mesopore size of 15 nm via co‐assembly of a poly(isoprene)‐block‐poly(styrene)‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer are synthesized. A combined effort by electron microscopy, X‐ray scattering, photoluminescence, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and density functional theory simulations reveals that the addition of small amounts of Nb results in the substitution of Ti4+ with isolated Nb5+ species that introduces inter‐bandgap states, while at high concentrations, Nb prefers to cluster forming shallow trap states within the conduction band minimum of TiO2. The gyroidal photocatalysts are remarkably active toward hydrogen evolution under UV and visible light due to the open 3D network, where large mesopores ensure efficient pore diffusion and high photon harvesting. The gyroids yield unprecedented high evolution rates beyond 1000 µmol h−1 (per 10 mg catalyst), outperforming even the benchmark P25‐TiO2 more than fivefold. Under UV light, the Nb‐doping reduces the activity due to the introduction of charge recombination centers, while the activity in the visible triple upon incorporation is owed to a more efficient absorption due to inter‐bandgap states. This unique pore architecture may further offer hitherto undiscovered optical benefits to photocatalysis, related to chiral and metamaterial‐like behavior, which will stimulate further studies focusing on novel light–matter interactions.

B2O3 doped (0.5–15 mol%) ordered mesoporous bioactive glasses were synthesized via sol–gel based evaporation-induced self-assembly using P123 as a structure directing agent and characterized by biokinetic, mechanical and structural investigations.