Patent attributes
A nanoporous material is provided. The pores of the nanoporous material are formed between nanoparticles that have a polymeric surface layer. The nanoporous material is produced by (a) suspending the nanoparticles in a medium material, wherein the nanoparticles are phase separated from the medium material, (b) heating the suspension to a temperature above the melting point of the nanoparticle surface layer, and (c) cooling the suspension. Alternatively, the nanoporous material may be produced by dissolving nanoparticles having a polymeric surface layer in a solvent, and then adding a medium material that causes the nanoparticles to phase separate from the solution.