Selectively functionalized porous material

Abstract

A porous substrate susceptible to one or both of hydroxylation and alkoxylation by a first protic solvent is exposed to a first relative pressure of the first protic solvent. The porous substrate includes a first plurality of pores having a first average pore diameter and a second plurality of pores having a second average pore diameter that is greater than the first average pore diameter. The first relative pressure is effective to one or both of hydroxylate or alkoxylate substantially only pores of the first average pore diameter to form a first modified porous substrate. The first modified porous substrate is reacted with a first functionalizing reagent that is effective to functionalize one or both of hydroxylated or alkoxylated surfaces, thereby functionalizing substantially only the first plurality of the pores, to form a first functionalized porous substrate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.