Transparent bulk silica porous material with uniform pore size and distribution

Abstract

The method for producing a bulk silica porous material is presented. The obtained material has a large crystal size serving to reduce light scattering, and uniform and adjustable pore size. This can be utilized for optical and electronic functional materials. The method comprises the steps of: forming a silica/surfactant composite by mixing starting materials containing an alkoxysilane, water and a surfactant and allowing to the starting materials to react; maturing said silica/surfactant composite by allowing the same to stand in a closed container to effect the development of a silica network structure and the formation of porous structure in said composite; drying said matured silica/surfactant composite for removing the solvent and for condensation of said matured silica/surfactant composite; and, sintering said condensed silica/surfactant composite to remove the surfactant to obtain a silica porous material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.