Abstract
Monolithic iron (III)-based gels with well-defined macropores have been synthesized from ionic precursors via sol-gel process accompanied by phase separation in the presence of propylene oxide (PO) and poly(acrylamide) (PAAm). Propylene oxide acts as an irreversible proton scavenger to induce homogeneous gelation, on the other hand PAAm as a phase separation inducer as well as a precipitation inhibitor. Appropriate choice of the starting composition allowed the production of co-continuous macroporous structure in a monolithic form. Dried gels were amorphous, whereas calcination under an inert condition led the formation of Fe3O4, iron, and/or Fe3C at varied temperatures.
