Advances in hierarchically porous materials: Fundamentals, preparation and applications

Hierarchically porous materials have enormous potential in energy storage, thermal management, desalination, biomedicine, and catalytic reactions for their superior thermophysical properties, high specific surface area, low density, and excellent accommodation capability with volume and thermal variation. As the demand for sustainable energy solutions continues to grow, it is crucial to optimize and fabricate hierarchically porous materials that can cater to diverse application scenarios. Based on the significant progress made in recent years, this study aims to review advanced hierarchically porous materials preparation methods and engineering applications. This study first introduces the fluid flow and heat transfer mechanism in hierarchical porous materials, providing a theoretical basis for the structural design and preparation methods to improve the evaporation performance of porous materials. The study focuses on the design and preparation methods of hierarchically porous materials, including metallic materials, ceramic materials, and carbon-based materials. In addition, the application scenarios of hierarchically porous materials are introduced, and the existing challenges and prospects of the design, preparation, and application of hierarchically porous materials are explained. The review provides an attempt to investigate the potential of hierarchically porous materials to become important contributors to global renewable and sustainable energy development.