Mesoporous materials can be classified according to different criteria. Common classification methods are as follows: I. Classification by Chemical Composition 1.1 Silica - based Mesoporous MaterialsThis is the earliest and most widely studied type of mesoporous materials. It mainly consists of silica and has a high specific surface area, regular pore structure, and good chemical stability. Typical representatives include MCM - 41 and SBA - 15. MCM - 41 has a hexagonal ordered pore structure with a pore size generally between 2 - 10 nm. SBA - 15 has a thicker pore wall, a larger pore size in the range of 5 - 30 nm, and better hydrothermal stability than MCM - 41.1.2 Metal Oxide Mesoporous MaterialsThis type includes mesoporous materials composed of various metal oxides such as alumina, titania, and zinc oxide. They have unique physical and chemical properties and are important in fields such as catalysis and sensing. For example, mesoporous alumina has a high specific surface area and good thermal stability and is commonly used as a catalyst support. Mesoporous titania, due to its photocatalytic activity, has attracted attention in wastewater treatment and photocatalytic hydrogen production. 1.3 Carbon - based Mesoporous MaterialsThese materials have a high specific surface area, good electrical conductivity, and chemical stability. Common preparation methods use phenolic resin, sucrose, etc. as carbon sources and are prepared by the template method. Mesoporous carbon materials exhibit excellent performance in supercapacitors, lithium - ion battery electrode materials, and adsorption and separation.Carbon - based mesoporous materials are applied in the field of electrochemical catalysis. 1.4 Metal - Organic Framework (MOF) Mesoporous MaterialsThese are porous materials formed by the self - assembly of metal ions or metal clusters and organic ligands through coordination bonds to form a periodic network structure. MOF materials have an extremely high specific surface area and a tunable pore structure. The pore size and shape can be precisely designed by selecting different metal ions and organic ligands. They have broad application prospects in gas storage and separation, catalysis, drug delivery, etc.Morphology of Metal - Organic Framework (MOF) Mesoporous Materials II. Classification by Pore Structure 2.1 Ordered Mesoporous MaterialsThe pore channels are arranged regularly and orderly, with a high degree of periodicity and symmetry. For example, MCM - 41 mentioned above is arranged in a hexagonal order, and there is also cubic - phase KIT - 6, etc. The regular pore structure of this type of material is beneficial to the transport and diffusion of substances, and it shows excellent performance in applications such as catalysis and adsorption. Schematic Diagram of Single - Micelle Directed Synthesis of Ordered Mesoporous Materials 2.2 Disordered Mesoporous MaterialsThe pore structure is relatively irregular, without obvious periodicity and symmetry. Although the pore order degree is not as good as that of ordered mesoporous materials, in some applications, the disordered mesoporous structure can also provide unique performance advantages. For example, in some adsorption systems where the requirements for pore connectivity are high and the requirements for pore regularity are relatively low, disordered mesoporous materials may have better adsorption kinetics performance.Synthesis of Disordered Mesoporous Silica III. Application Industries and Fields of Mesoporous Materials 3.1 Catalysis Fielda. Petrochemical IndustryIn the process of oil refining, mesoporous materials, as catalysts or catalyst supports, contribute to reactions such as oil cracking and reforming. Their large specific surface area and appropriate pore structure can highly disperse the active components, improve the catalytic efficiency, reduce the reaction temperature and pressure, and reduce energy consumption and equipment wear. For example, in the heavy - oil cracking reaction, mesoporous molecular sieve catalysts can convert heavy - oil macromolecules into light - oil products, improving the quality and yield of oil products. b. Fine Chemical IndustryFor the synthesis of fine chemicals, such as the production of pharmaceutical intermediates, spices, additives, etc., mesoporous material catalysts can achieve highly selective catalytic reactions. By designing the pore size and surface properties, specific reactants can enter the pores and react at the active sites, suppressing side reactions and improving the yield and purity of the target product. 3.2 Adsorption and Separation Field c. Gas Adsorption and StorageMesoporous materials can be used for the adsorption and storage of gases such as hydrogen and methane. Their abundant pore structures provide a large number of adsorption sites, enabling efficient gas adsorption and reversible desorption under relatively mild conditions, which is expected to solve the problems of storage and transportation of clean energy such as hydrogen. In addition, in air purification, mesoporous materials can selectively adsorb harmful gases such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), improving air quality.Gas Adsorption Capacity of New Mesoporous Materialsd. Liquid SeparationIn water treatment, mesoporous materials can be used to remove heavy metal ions and organic pollutants in water. Their pore size can be precisely controlled to screen molecules and ions of different sizes. For example, mesoporous activated carbon has a good adsorption performance for organic pollutants such as dyes and pesticides in water. Mesoporous ceramic membranes can be used in processes such as ultrafiltration and microfiltration to achieve solid - liquid separation and the separation of substances with different molecular weights.Method and Process for Synthesizing Mesoporous Titania Materials in Aqueous Phase 3.3 Energy Fielde. Battery MaterialsIn lithium - ion batteries, mesoporous - structured electrode materials can provide more lithium - ion insertion/extraction channels, shorten the ion diffusion distance, and improve the charge - discharge efficiency and cycle stability of the battery. For example, mesoporous titania, as a negative electrode material, has a high specific capacity and good rate performance. Mesoporous carbon materials can be used to prepare high - performance supercapacitor electrodes. Their large specific surface area and developed pore structure help to quickly store and release charges, improving the energy density and power density of supercapacitors.Mesoporous Carbon Electrode for Carbon - based Perovskite Solar Cells  f. Solar Energy UtilizationMesoporous semiconductor materials play an important role in solar cells and photocatalytic water - splitting for hydrogen production. For example, mesoporous titania thin films are key photoanode materials in dye - sensitized solar cells. Their high specific surface area can load more dye molecules, enhancing the absorption of sunlight and the photoelectric conversion efficiency. In photocatalytic water - splitting for hydrogen production, the mesoporous structure helps to improve the light absorption and utilization efficiency of photocatalysts, promote the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers, and thus increase the hydrogen production efficiency.Application of Mesoporous Semiconductor Materials in Solar Cells and Photocatalytic Water - splitting for Hydrogen Production 3.4 Biomedical Field g. Drug CarriersMesoporous materials have good biocompatibility and a large pore volume, enabling them to load a large number of drug molecules. By modifying the pore surface, targeted drug delivery and controlled release can be achieved. For example, loading anti - cancer drugs in mesoporous silica nanoparticles and modifying them with ligands targeting tumor cells can enable the drugs to accurately accumulate in tumor tissues, reducing the toxic side effects on normal tissues. At the same time, by adjusting the pore structure and surface properties of mesoporous materials, the drug release rate can be controlled to achieve long - acting sustained - release treatment.Application of Mesoporous Silica in Drug Carriers h. BiosensorsUsing the high specific surface area and good adsorption properties of mesoporous materials, biological recognition molecules (such as enzymes, antibodies, nucleic acids, etc.) are immobilized to prepare biosensors. Mesoporous materials can increase the loading amount of biological recognition molecules, improving the sensitivity and detection limit of the sensor. For example, the glucose sensor based on mesoporous carbon materials can quickly and accurately detect the glucose content in blood, providing convenience for blood - glucose monitoring of diabetic patients.Application Principle of Mesoporous Silica in the Biomedical Field 3.5 Electronic Information Field i. Microelectronic DevicesIn semiconductor chip manufacturing, mesoporous materials can be used to prepare low - dielectric - constant insulating layers, reducing the capacitive coupling effect inside the chip, reducing signal transmission delay, and improving the operating speed and performance of the chip. In addition, mesoporous materials can also be used to prepare heat - dissipation materials for electronic devices. Their high specific surface area and good thermal conductivity help to improve the heat - dissipation efficiency, ensuring the stable operation of electronic devices in high - temperature environments.BMN Film Voltage - Controlled Dielectric Varactor j. Optical MaterialsMesoporous materials can be used to prepare optical waveguides, luminescent materials, etc. in the optical field. By doping luminescent rare - earth ions or organic luminescent molecules in mesoporous materials, the luminescent properties can be regulated to prepare high - efficiency luminescent materials. The mesoporous structure can also regulate the propagation of light and is used to prepare optical waveguide devices with special optical properties, which have potential applications in optical communication and optical information processing.

2015 - 2020，The research team led by Duan Xue carried out studies on the combination of mesoporous materials and biomaterials. They combined mesoporous silica with biodegradable polymers to prepare composite materials with biocompatibility and controllable release properties, which can be used in biomedical fields such as drug delivery and tissue engineering, expanding the application of mesoporous materials in the biomedical field. Duan Xue During 2015 - 2020, the research team led by Yin Yadong used the seed-mediated growth method to prepare mesoporous nanoparticles with a core-shell structure. First, nanoseeds were synthesized, and then a mesoporous shell was grown on their surface. This structure has obvious advantages in the field of drug delivery. The core can carry drugs, and the mesoporous shell can regulate the release rate and achieve targeted delivery, providing technical support for the precise application of mesoporous materials in biomedicine. Yin YadongDuring 2015 - 2020, the research team led by German scientist Andreas Thomas developed highly efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution materials based on mesoporous materials. Transition metal phosphide nanoparticles were loaded on the surface of mesoporous carbon. Mesoporous carbon facilitates electron transfer and electrolyte diffusion. This composite catalyst has high hydrogen evolution activity and strong stability in acid and alkaline electrolytes, providing high-performance materials for hydrogen production from renewable energy.Andreas ThomasDuring the same period, the research team led by American scientist Angela M. Belchers was inspired by biomineralization and used genetically modified viruses as templates to synthesize mesoporous materials. These materials have unique advantages in drug carriers and bioimaging, can achieve controllable drug release and high-contrast imaging, providing new strategies for the green synthesis and biomedical application of mesoporous materials. Angela M. BelchersSince 2020, the research team led by Zhang Jin has focused on the research of nanostructure regulation and performance optimization of mesoporous carbon materials. By precisely controlling the pyrolysis process of carbon sources and introducing specific templating agents, mesoporous carbon materials with precise pore structure and high conductivity have been prepared. These materials exhibit excellent performance in energy storage devices such as supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries, providing key material support for the development of high-performance energy storage devices.Zhang Jin Since 2020, American scientist Paul Alivisatos has studied the composite system of mesoporous materials and quantum dots. Quantum dots were embedded in the pores of mesoporous silica to obtain composite materials with the luminescence characteristics of quantum dots and the advantages of mesoporous materials. They have potential application values in fields such as light-emitting diodes and bioimaging, opening up new directions for the application of mesoporous materials in optoelectronic devices and biomedical detection. Paul AlivisatosResearch and Development Characteristics1. Performance Optimization and Mechanism ResearchThe research focus has gradually shifted to the fine regulation of the performance of mesoporous materials and in-depth research on the action mechanism. Scientists are committed to improving the stability of mesoporous materials, improving the regularity and uniformity of their pore structures, so as to meet the strict requirements of different fields for material performance. 2. Functionalization and CompositeIn order to enable mesoporous materials to have more excellent and diverse properties, functionalization and composite have become important development directions. By introducing various functional groups into the pores of mesoporous materials or combining them with other materials, Endows mesoporous materials with new properties. 3. Diversified ApplicationsWith the continuous improvement of the performance and the increasing richness of the functions of mesoporous materials, their application fields have been greatly expanded. In the field of energy storage and conversion, mesoporous materials show great potential in battery electrode materials, catalyst supports, etc.; in the field of environmental protection, they are used for wastewater treatment, air pollution control, etc.; in the biomedical field, they play an important role as drug carriers, biosensors, etc. Mesoporous materials have also attracted more and more attention in biomedical applications, such as drug or gene delivery. Especially mesoporous silica materials can be prepared into various required shapes and sizes by different synthesis methods. Mesoporous silica materials have biocompatibility and can spontaneously degrade in human tissues, so they can be used as drug carriers. Moreover, since the pore diameter directly affects the drug loading and release kinetics in the delivery system, the ability to precisely control the pore diameter of silica will provide great advantages in biomedical applications. The development process of mesoporous materials embodies the scientific wisdom of the world. From synthesis exploration to performance research and application expansion, remarkable achievements have been made. Nowadays, it has great potential in many frontier fields and continuously provides key material support for solving global problems.

Around 1998, Chen Xiaoming's research team initiated studies on the combination of mesoporous materials and metal - organic frameworks (MOFs). They attempted to integrate the advantages of the pore - channel structure of mesoporous materials with the functionality of MOFs. Through co - assembly, they prepared composite materials with hierarchical pore structures and special functions, providing new ideas for the composite and functional development of mesoporous materials. Chen Xiaoming In 1999, the South Korean scientist Ryoo used mesoporous materials as hard templates and successively replicated CMK - 1, CMK - 2, and CMK - 3 mesoporous carbon molecular sieve materials using MCM - 48, SBA - 1, and SBA - 15 as templates. This method provided a feasible route for the synthesis of non - silica - based mesoporous materials such as noble metals, metal oxides, and sulfides, greatly enriching the types of mesoporous materials. Ryoo During the period from 1992 to 1999, based on the liquid - crystal template model, Scientists from various countries in the world proposed a more detailed model for the synthesis of mesoporous materials. It was believed that charge matching actually occurred between organic and inorganic ions at the interface. Even when the amount of surfactant used was less than the critical micelle concentration for the formation of rod - shaped micelles, the mesoporous structure could still be formed. A composite model of silicate anions and surfactants was also proposed. 3. The Deepening and Expansion Period (Early 21st Century - PresentAround 2000, American scientist Peter T. Tanev believed that mesoporous silica could be formed through hydrogen - bond interactions between the hydrophilic groups (S0) of amine - salt surfactants and hydrolyzed TEOS (I0). Using this mechanism, mesoporous materials such as silica, alumina, and titania could be synthesized. The obtained mesoporous silicates had thicker pore walls and higher thermal stability. He also synthesized Ti - HMS titanium - doped mesoporous molecular sieves, which showed potential application value in the catalytic field. Japanese scientist Takashi Tatsumi: During the period from 2000 to 2005, he achieved remarkable results in the regulation of the catalytic performance of mesoporous molecular sieves. In 2002, he used chemical modification methods to functionalize the pore - channel surfaces of mesoporous molecular sieves, introducing specific acidic or basic sites to precisely regulate the acidity and alkalinity of the molecular sieves, thereby optimizing their selectivity in various catalytic reactions. In alkylation reactions, the modified mesoporous molecular sieves exhibited higher selectivity for the target product than traditional catalysts, significantly improving the reaction efficiency and economic benefits and promoting the application of mesoporous materials in the field of fine - chemical catalysis. In 2003, Zhao Dongyuan proposed the concept of "acid - base pairs". Using acid - base - paired inorganic precursors, a series of non - silica mesoporous materials were synthesized through "self - regulating" acidity control in a non - aqueous system. This provided a universal method for the synthesis of mesoporous materials of multiple oxides and promoted the development of mesoporous materials towards diversification. From 2003 to 2005, Yu Jihong's research team achieved a breakthrough in the synthesis of mesoporous molecular sieves. They developed a new template - free method for synthesizing mesoporous molecular sieves. By precisely controlling conditions such as the acidity and alkalinity of the reaction system, temperature, and reaction time, they successfully prepared mesoporous molecular sieves with specific pore - channel structures, simplifying the synthesis process and reducing production costs. Yu Jihong  Since 2005, Japanese scientist Ryoji Kanno”has focused on the research of mesoporous materials derived from metal - organic frameworks (MOFs). In 2008, he innovatively used MOF materials as precursors and prepared mesoporous carbon, mesoporous metal oxides, and other materials with unique pore - channel structures and high specific surface areas through means such as pyrolysis. These materials not only inherited the structural advantages of MOFs but also exhibited excellent adsorption, separation, and catalytic properties. In the field of gas adsorption, the mesoporous carbon materials derived from MOFs had an adsorption capacity for carbon dioxide far exceeding that of conventional adsorbents, providing a new material solution for greenhouse gas capture and utilization. Susumu Kitagawa Scientists have been committed to developing new synthesis technologies to precisely control the pore size and pore - wall thickness of mesoporous materials. A synthesis method based on pulsed - electric - field assistance was invented, which could form highly ordered mesoporous structures in an extremely short time. Moreover, the pore size could be precisely controlled to vary between 1 - 20 nm by adjusting the electric - field parameters, providing a brand - new technical means for the preparation of high - performance mesoporous materials. Around 2005, a new synthesis method for mesoporous molecular sieves was developed. Using special organic templates and specific conditions, mesoporous molecular sieves with uniform pore sizes and good pore - wall crystallinity were synthesized. From 2010 to 2015, in - depth research was carried out on the application of mesoporous materials in the field of adsorption and separation. Through surface chemical modification, mesoporous materials could selectively adsorb organic molecules and metal ions, contributing to environmental protection and resource recovery. From 2005 to 2010, the team of American scientist Chad A. Mirkin combined DNA nanotechnology with mesoporous materials. They modified the surfaces of mesoporous materials with DNA strands of specific sequences. This enabled the materials to specifically recognize biomolecules and achieve highly sensitive detection of biomarkers, expanding the application of mesoporous materials in biomedical detection and providing ideas for the development of new biosensors.Chad A. Mirkin From 2005 to 2010, Zheng Nanfeng's research team focused on the preparation and performance research of mesoporous metal materials. They used the wet - chemical method to reduce metal salts in mesoporous templates and prepared highly dispersed mesoporous metal nanoparticles. These mesoporous metal materials exhibited excellent performance in reactions such as electrocatalysis and hydrogenation catalysis, providing new material options for the application of mesoporous materials in the field of energy catalysis. Zheng Nanfeng Korean scientist Sang Il Seok has focused on the research of mesoporous - structured solar cells since 2006. Through methods such as solvent engineering and component engineering, he successfully obtained high - quality, defect - free, and phase - structure - stable perovskite films. At the same time, by using interface engineering to reduce carrier recombination, in 2017, he increased the photoelectric conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells to 22.1%, setting multiple world records for organic/inorganic perovskite solar cells and greatly promoting the application and development of mesoporous materials in the field of solar cells. Sang Il Seok From 2008 to 2012, Japanese scientist Ryoji Kanno used the sol - gel method combined with template technology to prepare various metal oxides such as mesoporous cerium dioxide and zinc oxide, precisely regulating their pore - size and other parameters, and found that they had unique properties in the fields of catalysis and sensing. From 2015 to 2020, he carried out research on the composite of mesoporous materials and nanostructures, such as the composite of mesoporous silica and metal nanoparticles, to optimize their catalytic performance in organic synthesis.Ryoji Kanno From 2010 to 2015, Fu Qiang's research team was committed to the application research of mesoporous materials in the field of environmental remediation. They prepared mesoporous materials loaded with photocatalytically active substances for the degradation of organic pollutants in water and the removal of harmful gases in the air. By optimizing the structure of mesoporous materials and the loading method, the photocatalytic efficiency was improved, providing new materials and technical solutions for solving environmental pollution problems.Fu Qiang.Fu Qiang From 2010 to 2015, the team led by German scientist Markus Antonietti developed a method for in - situ growth of functional polymers in the pore channels of mesoporous materials. First, mesoporous silica was prepared, and then monomers were introduced for polymerization. The polymer - modified materials were used in organic reactions such as esterification, improving the stability of active sites and regulating product selectivity, providing a new strategy for fine - chemical catalysis.Markus Antonietti From 2010 to 2015, American scientist John B. Goodenough focused on the application of mesoporous materials in battery electrodes. He used mesoporous titania in the negative electrode of lithium - ion batteries and found that the mesoporous structure could shorten the diffusion path of lithium ions, increase the contact area between the electrode and the electrolyte, and improve the charge - discharge rate and cycle stability of the battery, providing new ideas for the design of high - performance battery materials. John B. Goodenough During the same period, American scientist Charles M. Lieber was committed to the development of nano - electronic devices based on mesoporous materials. His team precisely controlled the structure of mesoporous silicon and prepared high - performance mesoporous silicon - based field - effect transistors, improving carrier - transport efficiency and reducing power consumption. They also explored the composite of mesoporous materials and nanowires, opening up a new direction for the development of mesoporous materials in nano - electronics.Charles M. Lieber