Colloidal crystals as templates for porous materials

Close-packed colloidal crystals are promising precursors for novel materials, but only after appropriate methods are developed to fix their structure. A wide range of advanced materials has recently been synthesized by replicating the structure of colloidal crystals into durable solid matrices. Such materials with structured pores have promise as photonic crystals, catalysts, and membranes, and in a variety of other applications. This paper reviews the methods used in the formation of these materials and likely future trends in the field.