Preparation and characterization of macroporous γ-LiAlO2

Abstract Lithium aluminate powders with three-dimensional, periodic arrays of interconnected macropores (275–325 nm in diameter) were synthesized by poly(methyl methacrylate) latex colloidal crystal templating via wet-chemical process. Calcination removed the polymer template and converted the inorganic precursors into a high surface area (up to 56 m 2 /g), macroporous skeleton of γ-LiAlO 2 . Under certain synthesis conditions, lithium-poor LiAl 5 O 8 nanocrystals were also present. Optimized synthesis conditions and structural characterisics of the materials are presented.