Rational design of macrocellular silica scaffolds obtained by a tunable sol-gel foaming process

A technique that uses a non-static patterning method has been employed for rational design toward macrocellular silica scaffolds (see Figure). The technique allows complete control over the width, length, and curvature of the plateau borders of the silica foam. Furthermore, this macroscale void space structuration is associated with secondary micro- and mesoscale porosity thus reaching hierarchically organized monolith-type materials.