Study on Photocatalytic Porous Metal Oxide Heterostructures Prepared from Urea Network (UN)-Based Nanoporous Membranes as a Template

Abstract

This study investigates the use of Urea Network (UN)-based nanoporous membranes and their derivatives, PM-NCF and NHF, as templates for the synthesis of porous metal oxide heterostructures designed for photocatalytic applications. The unique thermal and chemical stability of these templates enables the formation of high-surface-area metal oxides with 3D interconnected pore structures and high crystallinity, overcoming the limitations of conventional hard templates that are prone to degradation under harsh synthesis conditions. The UN-based templates allow for multi-cycle precursor infiltration, facilitating the development of composite heterostructures with enhanced structural complexity and catalytic functionality. The NHF variant provides an efficient method for synthesizing core-shell structures through direct silica shell formation during template removal. Additionally, the UN sol serves as an effective thin film coating binder, producing adherent films suitable for catalytic substrates. The synthesized materials exhibit exceptional photocatalytic performance in the reduction of nitroarenes to amines, owing to their optimized structural properties and stability. This approach highlights the versatility of UN-based membranes as robust platforms for the design of advanced catalytic materials. MS/MS 20231129