Preparation of bimodal porous alumina using propylene glycol oligomers

Bimodal porous alumina was prepared from the solution with aluminum chloride and 1,2-propylene oxide by adding propylene glycol oligomers (PPG). Because of hydrophobic nature of PPG, the addition of PPG induces phase separation during sol–gel reaction, and macroporous morphologies are formed by fixing transitional structure of phase separation. Since ethanol works as a co-solvent, the macropore size of the obtained gel can be increased by decreasing ethanol content. Change in the concentration of other constituents such as PPG has also an effect to control morphologies through changing the timing of phase separation and sol–gel transition.