Porous ceramics prepared by mimicking silicified wood

Porous titania, alumina and zirconia ceramic woods with wood-like microstructures, analogous to that of silicified wood, were prepared from natural woods as templates. The production of these ceramic woods was performed by the following process: (1) infiltration of metal alkoxide into wood specimens, (2) hydrolysis of the alkoxide in the cell structure to form titania, alumina or zirconia gels, (3) firing in air to form titania, alumina or zirconia ceramic woods. The resulting titania, alumina and zirconia ceramic woods were studied by means of an X-ray diffractometer, a mercury porosimeter and a scanning electron microscope. The microstructure of these ceramic woods retained the same structure as that of the raw wood: with the pore sizes corresponding to those of the original wood, and the major pores being unidirectionally connected.