Sol-Gel Synthesis of TiO2 with Pectin and Their Efficiency in Solar Cells Sensitized by Quantum Dots.

In this study, titanium oxide TiO2 nanoparticles were produced using the sol-gel approach of green synthesis with pectin as the reducing agent. The synthetized TiO2 nanoparticles with pectin were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), visible light absorption (UV-Vis) and the BET method. The structure and morphology of the TiO2 powder were described with SEM, revealing uniform monodisperse grains with a distribution of 80% regarding sizes < 250 nm; the resulting crystal phase of synthetized TiO2 was identified as an anatase and rutile phase with a crystallinity size estimated between 27 and 40 nm. Also, the surface area was determined by nitrogen adsorption-desorption using the Brown-Emmet-Teller method, with a surface area calculated as 19.56 m2/g, typical of an IV type isotherm, indicating mesoporous NPs. UV-Vis spectra showed that sol-gel synthesis reduced the band gap from the 3.2 eV common value to 2.22 eV after estimating the optical band gap energy using the adsorption coefficient; this translates to a possible extended photo response to the visible region, improving photoactivity. In addition, the power conversion of the photoelectrode was compared based on similar assembly techniques of TiO2 electrode deposition. Quantum dot crystals were deposited ionically on the electrode surface, as two different paste formulations based on a pectin emulsifier were studied for layer deposition. The results confirm that the TiO2 paste with TiO2-synthesized powder maintained good connections between the nanocrystalline mesoporous grains and the deposited layers, with an efficiency of 1.23% with the transparent paste and 2.27% with the opaque paste. These results suggest that pectin could be used as a low-cost, functional sol-gel catalysis agent for the synthesis of controlled NPs of metal oxide. It demonstrates interesting optical properties, such as an increase in photo response, suggesting further applications to photocatalysts and biomedical features.

Nanocellulose/Nanoporous Silicon Composite Films as a Drug Delivery System.

Nanocellulose (NC) is a promising material for drug delivery due to its high surface area-to-volume ratio, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatility in various formats (nanoparticles, hydrogels, microspheres, membranes, and films). In this study, nanocellulose films were derived from "Bolaina blanca" (Guazuma crinita) and combined with nanoporous silicon microparticles (nPSi) in concentrations ranging from 0.1% to 1.0% (w/v), using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a binding agent to create NC/nPSi composite films for drug delivery systems. The physicochemical properties of the samples were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The mechanical properties and drug release capabilities were also evaluated using methylene blue (MB) as an antibacterial drug model. Antibacterial assays were conducted against S. aureus and E. coli bacteria. The results show that NC/nPSi composites with 1% nPSi increased the T50% by 10 °C and enhanced mechanical properties, such as a 70% increase in the elastic modulus and a 372% increase in elongation, compared to NC films. Additionally, MB released from NC/nPSi composites effectively inhibited the growth of both bacteria. It was also observed that the diffusion coefficients were inversely proportional to the % nPSi. These findings suggest that this novel NC/nPSi-based material can serve as an effective controlled drug release system.

Unusual dark-field hyperspectral and confocal Raman microscopy features of a nanoporous gold electrode coated with porphyrazine complex.

Nanoporous gold electrodes are of great interest in electroanalytical chemistry, because of their unusual activity and large surface area. The electrochemical activity can be further improved by coating with molecular catalysts such as the tetraruthenated cobalt-tetrapyridylporphyrazines investigated in this work. The plasmonic enhancement of the scattered light at the nanoholes and borders modifies the electrode's optical characteristics, improving the transmission through the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect. When monitored by hyperspectral dark-field and confocal Raman microscopy, this effect allows probing of the porphyrazine species at the plasmonic nanholes, improving the understanding of the chemically modified gold electrodes.

Characterization of modified titanium surfaces by anodisation and immersion tests.

This paper explores the features of both nanoporous and compact TiO2 films formed by titanium anodisation in two experimental conditions, given that they have completely different morphologies and properties than those found by our previous studies. After anodisation, samples have been subjected for 20 days to immersion tests in different media (H2O, H3PO4, and KOH). Surface morphology, phase composition and wettability of anodised films were investigated using FESEM, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, contact angle measurements and XPS, and the hydrophilicity of modified surfaces was investigated by immersion tests. Nanoporous films exhibited hydrophobic surfaces, but contact angle values gradually decreased after immersing films in H2O, H3PO4 and KOH media, respectively. However, compact films produced superhydrophilic surfaces, both before and after immersion tests, with the exception of immersing the film in a H3PO4 medium due to film removal by acid attack. As for compact films, an unusual morphology revealed by the presence of cone-shaped particles might be responsible for the adsorption of -OH groups arranged so as to favour anatase phase formation.

Experimental and Theoretical Estimations of Atrazine's Adsorption in Mangosteen-Peel-Derived Nanoporous Carbons.

Nanoporous carbons were prepared via chemical and physical activation from mangosteen-peel-derived chars. The removal of atrazine was studied due to the bifunctionality of the N groups. Pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle pore diffusion kinetic models were analyzed. Adsorption isotherms were also analyzed according to the Langmuir and Freundlich models. The obtained results were compared against two commercially activated carbons with comparable surface chemistry and porosimetry. The highest uptake was found for carbons with higher content of basic surface groups. The role of the oxygen-containing groups in the removal of atrazine was estimated experimentally using the surface density. The results were compared with the adsorption energy of atrazine theoretically estimated on pristine and functionalized graphene with different oxygen groups using periodic DFT methods. The energy of adsorption followed the same trend observed experimentally, namely the more basic the pH, the more favored the adsorption of atrazine. Micropores played an important role in the uptake of atrazine at low concentrations, but the presence of mesoporous was also required to inhibit the pore mass diffusion limitations. The present work contributes to the understanding of the interactions between triazine-based pollutants and the surface functional groups on nanoporous carbons in the liquid-solid interface.

Microfluidic Platform Integrated with Carbon Nanofibers-Decorated Gold Nanoporous Sensing Device for Serum PSA Quantification.

Prostate cancer is a disease with a high incidence and mortality rate in men worldwide. Serum prostate-specific antigens (PSA) are the main circulating biomarker for this disease in clinical practices. In this work, we present a portable and reusable microfluidic device for PSA quantification. This device comprises a polymethyl methacrylate microfluidic platform coupled with electrochemical detection. The platinum working microelectrode was positioned in the outflow region of the microchannel and was modified with carbon nanofibers (CNF)-decorated gold nanoporous (GNP) structures by the dynamic hydrogen bubble template method, through the simultaneous electrodeposition of metal precursors in the presence of CNF. CNF/GNP structures exhibit attractive properties, such as a large surface to volume ratio, which increases the antibody's immobilization capacity and the electroactive area. CNFs/GNP structures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, and cyclic voltammetry. Anti-PSA antibodies and HRP were employed for the immune-electrochemical reaction. The detection limit for the device was 5 pg mL-1, with a linear range from 0.01 to 50 ng mL-1. The coefficients of variation within and between assays were lower than 4.40%, and 6.15%, respectively. Additionally, its clinical performance was tested in serum from 30 prostate cancer patients. This novel device was a sensitive, selective, portable, and reusable tool for the serological diagnosis and monitoring of prostate cancer.

Synthesis and Characterization of Nanoporous ZnO Films by Controlling the Zn Sublimation by Using ZnO/Zn Precursor Films.

A reliable process for the formation of nanoporous ZnO films supported on amorphous quartz and (100) silicon substrates via the processing of ZnO/Zn precursor films is reported. The process is based on the sublimation mechanism of Zn implemented in a novel ZnO/Zn precursor film to produce a nanoporous film. A scanning electron microscopy analysis of the nanoporous ZnO films' surfaces revealed the presence of ZnO nano-features with round tips; in contrast, the nanoporous ZnO films supported on (100) Si substrates showed hexagonal nut-like nanostructures. The crystallite size of the nanoporous ZnO films decreased as the sublimation temperature was increased. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies demonstrated that formations of oxygen vacancies were produced during the processing stages (as the main structural lattice defects in the ZnO nanoporous films). The analysis of the photoluminescence response confirmed that the active deep-level centers were also related to the oxygen vacancies generated during the thermal processing of the ZnO/Zn precursor films. Finally, a qualitative mechanism is proposed to explain the formation of nanoporous ZnO films on quartz and crystalline Si substrates. The results suggest that the substrates used have a strong influence on the nanoporous ZnO structures obtained with the Zn-sublimation-controlled process.

Existence of Ti3+ and dislocation on nanoporous CdO-TiO2 heterostructure applicable for degrading chlorophenol pollutant.

This study addresses the significance of wastewater recuperation by a simple and facile treatment process known as photocatalyst technology using visible light. Titanium di-oxide (TiO2) is the most promising photocatalyst ever since longing decades, has good activity under UV light, owing to its small band gap. Hence, TiO2 has been modified with metal oxides for the positive response against visible light. Since this is an efficient process, the novelty has been made on nanometal oxide CdO (cadmium oxide) combined with TiO2 to acquire the best efficiency of degrading organic chlorophenol contaminant. Initially, the composites were synthesized by sol-gel and thermal decomposition methods and investigated for their various outstanding properties. The characterized outcomes have exhibited heterostructures with reduced crystallite size from the X-ray diffraction studies. Then, the determination of nanoporous feature was recognized through HR-TEM analysis which was also detected with some dislocations. The EDX spectrum was identified the perfect elemental composition. The nitrogen adsorption-desorption equilibrium was attained that offers many pores measured with high surface area. The XPS result convinced that Ti3+ was accessible along with TIO2/CdO composite. Further the absorption towards higher wavelength was obtained from UV-vis spectra. Finally, for the photocatalytic application of chlorophenol, the composite shows higher percentage of degrading efficiencies than the pristine TiO2. The photocatalytic mechanism was discussed in detail.

Adsorption for rhodamine b dye and biological activity of nano-porous chitosan from shrimp shells.

The present work aims to evaluate the removal capacity of Rhodamine B dye (RhB) using nano-porous chitosan (NC) from shrimp shells. NC was characterized by XRD, SEM-EDS, N2 porosimetry, zeta potential (ZP), FTIR, DLS, and zero charge point (pHZCP). Compound central rotational design (CCRD) was used to determine the ideal condition and antimicrobial activity was evaluated against different strains. NC showed characteristic of semi-crystalline material with negative charge surface (around - 21.13 mV), and SBET = 1.12 m2 g-1, Vp = 0.0064 cm3 g-1, Dp = 32.09 nm and pHZCP ≈ 7.98. Kinetic adsorption showed the pseudo first-order model had the best fit, with adsorption capacity (q1) between 3.78 and 64.43 mg g-1 and pseudo first-order kinetic constant (k1) between 0.066 and 0.052 min-1. Sips model best described the equilibrium data, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 505.131 mg g-1. Antimicrobial activity was observed at 0.25 mg mL-1 for different strains. Therefore, NC has potential application in the removal of the dye, combining sustainable development associated with nanotechnology.

Highly sensitive and selective nanostructured microbiosensors for glucose and lactate simultaneous measurements in blood serum and in vivo in brain tissue.

Highly sensitive and selective nanostructured lactate and glucose microbiosensors for their in vivo simultaneous determination in rat brain were developed based on carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFM) modified with nanoporous gold (NPG) using the Dynamic Hydrogen Bubble Template (DHBT) method. Electrodeposition of platinum nanoparticles (PtNP) onto the NPG film enhances the sensitivity and the electrocatalytic properties towards H2O2 detection. The nanostructured microelectrode platform was modified by glucose oxidase (GOx) and lactate oxidase (LOx) enzyme immobilization. High selective measurements were achieved by covering with a perm-selective layer of electropolymerized m-phenylenediamine, deposition of a Nafion® film and by using a null sensor. The morphological characteristics and electroanalytical performance of the microbiosensors were assessed, by scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical techniques, respectively. The PtNP/NPG/CFM shows a high sensitivity to H2O2 (5.96 A M-1 cm-2) at 0.36 V vs. Ag/AgCl, with a linear range from 0.2 to 200 µM, and an LOD of 10 nM. The microbiosensors were applied to the simultaneous determination of lactate and glucose in blood serum samples. Moreover, the basal extracellular concentrations of lactate and glucose were measured in vivo in four different rat brain structures. These results support the potential of the microbiosensor to be used as a valuable tool to investigate brain neurochemicals in vivo.

Fabrication of dendritic nanoporous gold via a two-step amperometric approach: Application for electrochemical detection of methyl parathion in river water samples.

In this work, nanoporous gold (NPG) was prepared according to three different approaches, such as (i) anodization-electrochemical reduction (A-ECR, NPGA), (ii) dynamic hydrogen bubble template (DHBT, NPGB), and (iii) the combination of both methods (NPGA+B). Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to investigate the structural morphology and the electrochemical behavior of the fabricated materials. The NPGA+B electrode showed a large amount of surface defects and/or edges, greater electrochemical surface area (2.5 cm2), and increased roughness factor (35.4). Such outstanding features of the NPGA+B platform were demonstrated by the sensitive detection of methyl parathion (MP) in river water samples. CV results indicated nearly 25-fold, 6-fold, and 2.5-fold higher sensitivity for NPGA+B compared to that of bare Au, NPGA, and NPGB, respectively. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) results show a linear behavior in the MP concentration range of 5-50 ng mL-1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.6 ng mL-1 and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 2.0 ng mL-1. Besides, the NPGA+B sensor also revealed excellent selectivity towards MP detection in the presence of other interfering molecules or ions, reproducibility, and repeatability.

Ultrasensitive microfluidic electrochemical immunosensor based on electrodeposited nanoporous gold for SOX-2 determination.

An ultrasensitive and portable microfluidic electrochemical immunosensor for SOX-2 cancer biomarker determination was developed. The selectivity and sensitivity of the sensor were improved by modifying the microfluidic channel. This was accomplished through a physical-chemical treatment to produce a hydrophilic surface, with an increased surface to volume/ratio, where the anti-SOX-2 antibodies can be covalently immobilized. A sputtered gold electrode was used as detector and its surface was activated by using a dynamic hydrogen bubble template method. As a result, a gold nanoporous structure (NPAu) with outstanding properties, like high specific surface area, large pore volume, uniform nanostructure, good conductivity, and excellent electrochemical activity was obtained. SOX-2 present in the sample was bound to the anti-SOX-2 immobilized in the microfluidic channel, and then was labeled with a second antibody marked with horseradish peroxidase (HRP-anti-SOX-2) like a sandwich immunoassay. Finally, an H2O2 + catechol solution was added, and the enzymatic product (quinone) was reduced on the NPAu electrode at +0.1 V (vs. Ag). The current obtained was directly proportional to the SOX-2 concentration in the sample. The detection limit achieved was 30 pg mL-1, and the coefficient of variation was less than 4.75%. Therefore, the microfluidic electrochemical immunosensor is a suitable clinical device for in situ SOX-2 determination in real samples.

Nanopore-Enhanced Drop Evaporation: When Cooler or More Saline Water Droplets Evaporate Faster.

The evaporation of water droplets on surfaces is a ubiquitous phenomenon in nature and has critical importance in a broad range of technical applications. Here, we show a substantial enhancement of liquid evaporation rate when droplets are on nanoporous thin film surfaces. We also reveal how this nanopore-enhanced evaporation leads to counterintuitive phenomena: cooler or more saline water droplets evaporate faster. We find indeed that, contrary to typical evaporation behavior of sessile droplets on nonporous surfaces, the droplets placed on nanoporous thin films evaporate more rapidly when salt concentration increases or when the temperature decreases. This peculiar droplet evaporation behavior is related to the key role of the steady wetted annulus that is self-generated into the nanopore network in the drop periphery, which leads to an effectively enhanced evaporation area that controls the overall evaporation process. Our results provide the prospect of conceiving fresh scenarios in the evaporation of drops on surfaces in both relevant applications and fundamental insights.

Spiro-Carbon: A Metallic Carbon Allotrope Predicted from First Principles Calculations.

A structurally stable microporous metallic carbon allotrope, poly(spiro[2.2]penta-1,4-diyne) or, for short, spiro-carbon, with I41 /amd (D4h ) symmetry is predicted by first-principles calculations using density functional theory (DFT). The calculations of electronic, vibrational, and structural properties show that spiro-carbon has lower relative energy than other elusive carbon allotropes such as T-Carbon and 1-diamondyne (Y-Carbon). Its structure can be pictured as a set of trans-cisoid-polyacetylene chains tangled and interconnected together by sp3 carbon atoms. Calculations reveal a metallic electronic structure arising from an "intrinsic doping" of trans-cisoid-polyacetylene chains with sp3 carbon atoms. Possible synthetic routes and various simulated spectra (XRD, NMR, and IR absorption) are provided in order to guide future efforts to synthesize this novel material.

Sustainable production of nanoporous carbons: Kinetics and equilibrium studies in the removal of atrazine.

Nanoporous carbons have been prepared from mangosteen peels-derived chars by physical activation under CO2 flow as a function of temperature. As an example of circular bioeconomy, these sustainable adsorbents were used to remove atrazine, a common pesticide from the agroindustry. Several adsorption models such as Langmuir (two parameter), Sips and Redlich-Peterson (three parameters) were applied to verify the influence of carbon's properties on the uptake of atrazine. Additional kinetic models (pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and Avrami's) allowed to establish that a mixture of physisorption and chemisorption describes the interaction between the nanoporous carbons and atrazine. As a general fact, an important diffusion of atrazine from the bulk of solution to the surface of carbons was observed. All samples were able to remove atrazine, but the highest uptake was found in the carbon with the highest contribution of micropores to the total pore of volume and with the lowest content of basic surface groups. Several correlations between the kinetic and equilibrium parameters for the atrazine adsorption were found as a function of the textural properties and surface chemistry. Based on the kinetics and equilibrium parameters, the present work proposes a mechanism for the atrazine adsorption on nanoporous carbons contributing to the understanding of the interactions between pollutant molecules and the surface functional groups on nanoporous carbons in the liquid-solid interface.

Structural and Electrical Studies for Birnessite-Type Materials Synthesized by Solid-State Reactions.

The focus of this paper is centered on the thermal reduction of KMnO4 at controlled temperatures of 400 and 800 °C. The materials under study were characterized by atomic absorption spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, average oxidation state of manganese, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, and impedance spectroscopy. The structural formulas, found as a result of these analyses, were K 0.29 + ( M n 0.84 4 + M n 0.16 3 + ) O 2.07 · 0.61 H 2 O and K 0.48 + ( M n 0.64 4 + M n 0.36 3 + ) O 2.06 · 0.50 H 2 O . The N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms show the microporous and mesoporous nature of the structure. Structural analysis showed that synthesis temperature affects the crystal size and symmetry, varying their electrical properties. Impedance spectroscopy (IS) was used to measure the electrical properties of these materials. The measurements attained, as a result of IS, show that these materials have both electronic and ionic conductivity. The conductivity values obtained at 10 Hz were 4.1250 × 10-6 and 1.6870 × 10-4 Ω-1cm-1 for Mn4 at 298 and 423 K respectively. For Mn8, the conductivity values at this frequency were 3.7074 × 10-7 (298) and 3.9866 × 10-5 Ω-1cm-1 (423 K). The electrical behavior was associated with electron hopping at high frequencies, and protonic conduction and ionic movement of the K+ species, in the interlayer region at low frequencies.

Use of nPSi-ßCD Composite Microparticles for the Controlled Release of Caffeic Acid and Pinocembrin, Two Main Polyphenolic Compounds Found in a Chilean Propolis.

Propolis is widely recognized for its various therapeutic properties. These are attributed to its rich composition in polyphenols, which exhibit multiple biological properties (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic). Despite its multiple benefits, oral administration of polyphenols results in low bioavailability at the action site. An alternative to face this problem is the use of biomaterials at nano-micro scale due to its high versatility as carriers and delivery systems of various drugs and biomolecules. The aim of this work is to determine if nPSi-ßCD microparticles are a suitable material for the load and controlled release of caffeic acid (CA) and pinocembrin (Pin), two of the main components of a Chilean propolis with anti-atherogenic and anti-angiogenic activity. Polyphenols and nPSi-ßCD microparticles cytocompatibility studies were carried out with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Results from physicochemical characterization demonstrated nPSi-ßCD microparticles successfully retained and controlled release CA and Pin. Furthermore, nPSi-ßCD microparticles presented cytocompatibility with HUVECs culture at concentrations of 0.25 mg/mL. These results suggest that nPSi-ßCD microparticles could safely be used as an alternate oral delivery system to improve controlled release and bioavailability of CA or Pin-and eventually other polyphenols-thus enhancing its therapeutic effect for the treatment of different diseases.

Geometrical structure data of nanoporous carbon systems obtained from computer simulated pyrolysis.

This article contains data on nanoporous carbon materials coming from lignocellulosic components. Such data is directly related to the research paper "Insights into the design of carbon electrodes coming from lignocellulosic components pyrolysis with potential application in energy storage devices: A combined in silico and experimental study" [1]. In this work, the geometrical parameters of nanoporous carbon systems were found with Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations at the ReaxFF level. The tridimensional structures of such carbon systems are given in Cartesian coordinates. They were computed at different heating rates, simulating the conditions observed in pyrolysis processes of Agave angustifolia leaves, which were carried out in a solar furnace. Nanoporous carbon systems are characterized with radial distribution functions (RDF) and ring distribution profiles.

Synthesis and characterization of CaCO3-biopolymer hybrid nanoporous microparticles for controlled release of doxorubicin.

Doxorubicin (Dox) is a hydrophilic drug extensively used for treatment of breast, lung, and ovarian cancer, among others; it is highly toxic and can cause serious side effects on nontargeted tissues. We developed and studied a hybrid nanoporous microparticle (hNP) carrier based on calcium carbonate and biopolymers derivatized with folic acid (FA) and containing Dox as a chemotherapeutic drug model. The hNPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction, and Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies. The X-ray diffraction patterns of calcium carbonate particles showed about 30-70% vaterite-calcite polymorphisms and up to 95% vaterite, depending on the absence or the presence of biopolymers as well as their type. Scanning electron microcopy images revealed that all types of hNPs were approximately spherical and porous with average diameter 1-5 µm, and smaller than CaCO3 microparticles. The presence of biopolymers in the matrices was confirmed after derivatization with a fluorescein isothiocyanate probe by means of confocal microscopy and FTIR synchrotron beamline analysis. In addition, the coupling of lambda carrageenan (λ-Car) to FA in the microparticles (FA-λ-Car-hNPs) increased the cancer-cell targeting and also extended the specific surface area by up to ninefold (26.6 m2 g(-1)), as determined by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. A nanostructured porous surface was found in all instances, and the FA-λ-Car-hNP pore size was about 30 nm, as calculated by means of the Barrett-Joyner-Halenda adsorption average. The test of FA-λ-Car-hNP anticancer activity on human osteosarcoma MG-63 cell line showed cell viabilities of 13% and 100% with and without Dox, respectively, as determined by crystal violet staining after 24 h of incubation.

Nanoporous composites prepared by a combination of SBA-15 with Mg-Al mixed oxides. Water vapor sorption properties.

This work presents two easy ways for preparing nanostructured mesoporous composites by interconnecting and combining SBA-15 with mixed oxides derived from a calcined Mg-Al hydrotalcite. Two different Mg-Al hydrotalcite addition procedures were implemented, either after or during the SBA-15 synthesis (in situ method). The first procedure, i.e., the post-synthesis method, produces a composite material with Mg-Al mixed oxides homogeneously dispersed on the SBA-15 nanoporous surface. The resulting composites present textural properties similar to the SBA-15. On the other hand, with the second procedure (in situ method), Mg and Al mixed oxides occur on the porous composite, which displays a cauliflower morphology. This is an important microporosity contribution and micro and mesoporous surfaces coexist in almost the same proportion. Furthermore, the nanostructured mesoporous composites present an extraordinary water vapor sorption capacity. Such composites might be utilized as as acid-base catalysts, adsorbents, sensors or storage nanomaterials.