| Abstract Scope |
This work aims to synthesize anisotropic and stochastic mesoporous ceramics utilizing high aspect ratio sacrificial fillers assembled in anisotropic structures. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are employed due to their natural, renewable, and biodegradable properties. These CNCs have demonstrated efficacy in generating porous materials at macro (>50 nm) and meso (2-50 nm) scales through colloidal processing. This work leverages directional ice-templating to fabricate anisotropic CNC aerogels, that act as porogens in the creation of the mesoporous ceramic. Anisotropic materials, characterized by their direction-dependent physical properties, have implications across various applications due to their differentiated thermal, chemical, and mechanical behaviors.. Following infiltration of the vertically aligned CNC aerogel with ceramic precursor and subsequent calcination of the CNC aerogel, a porous ceramic framework is established. The structural integrity and morphological features of the infiltrated samples are rigorously assessed using electron microscopy SEM, confirming alignment and infiltration of CNCs within the ceramic matrix. |