“…Monolithic meso/macroporous dual silica materials, with bimodal pore size distribution and well-controlled macroscopic morphology, have attracted a great deal of attention in the past decade because they combine the advantages of high specific surface with the accessible diffusion pathways associated with macroporous structures . The dual properties of these materials have stimulated research for applications that include catalytic supports, filters, chromatographic adsorbents, structural materials, − and more recently enzyme-based biodiesel production, fuel cells − or energy storage. , However, despite increasing research effort, the synthesis of large meso/macroporous monoliths, with ordered mesopores, remains a challenge not only because of inherent chemical incompatibilities in the precursor solution and the need for template removal, but also due to shrinkage during drying. Since mesoporous materials, such as hexagonal ordered MCM-41, were discovered by Mobil Corporation scientists in 1992, , surfactant-templated synthetic procedures have been extensively studied. − The use of surfactant self-assemblies, in one-step methods, has been recognized as a very useful method for controlling morphology of mesoporous materials with ordered pores.…”