title: Recent advances in the textural characterization of hierarchically structured nanoporous materials.
abstract: This review focuses on important aspects of applying physisorption for the pore structural characterization of hierarchical materials such as mesoporous zeolites. During the last decades major advances in understanding the adsorption and phase behavior of fluids confined in ordered nanoporous materials have been made, which led to major progress in the physisorption characterization methodology (summarized in the 2015 IUPAC report on physisorption characterization). Here we discuss progress and challenges for the physisorption characterization of nanoporous solids exhibiting various levels of porosity from micro- to macropores. While physisorption allows one to assess micro- and mesopores, a widely employed method for textural analysis of macroporous materials is mercury porosimetry and we also review important insights associated with the underlying mechanisms governing mercury intrusion/extrusion experiments. Hence, although the main focus of this review is on physical adsorption, we strongly emphasize the importance of combining advanced physical adsorption with other complementary experimental techniques for obtaining a reliable and comprehensive understanding of the texture of hierarchically structured materials.
authors.affiliation: Quantachrome Instruments, 1900 Corporate Drive, Boynton Beach, Fl 33436, USA. matthias.thommes@quantachrome.com.
authors.forename: Katie A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Cychosz
authors.affiliation: Quantachrome Instruments, 1900 Corporate Drive, Boynton Beach, Fl 33436, USA. matthias.thommes@quantachrome.com.
authors.forename: Rémy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guillet-Nicolas
authors.affiliation: University of Alicante, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Campus de San Vicente del Raspeig, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Quantachrome Instruments, 1900 Corporate Drive, Boynton Beach, Fl 33436, USA. matthias.thommes@quantachrome.com.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thommes