The Basics

Porous materials is a fascinating field. In the past, pores were considered defects in the solid structure, but since their first dedicated use in 17th century, porous materials have become increasingly important in separation, reaction, and energy storage. A vast literature on the topic has described the materials themselves, characterized them, and studied their transport and functions. The number of research works in the field of porous materials is growing fast, and, as in many other fields of science and engineering, things are sometimes rediscovered or reinvented. New information flows in, and needs to be summarized, arranged and distributed in a timely manner. The last comprehensive reference work on the topic, Handbook of Porous Solids, was published in 2002. Since then, there have been important developments in several emerging fields. The aim of this Handbook of Porous Materials (In 4 Volumes), is to provide a comprehensive yet handy and understandable update on the state-of-the-art in the synthesis, characterisation, and applications of porous materials in the 21st century.