Abstract: The invention provides a nanoporous non-oxide material which comprises a modified derivative of silicon nitride and comprises a plurality of nanoscale pores. The nanoporous non-oxide material is preferably prepared by means of a sol-gel procedure and preferably comprises a metal-containing derivative of silicon nitride [SiN4], silicon oxynitride [Si2N2O] or silicon imidonitride [Si3N4?2x(NH)3x] which contains a Group III metal or a transition metal. The nanoporous non-oxide material also additionally comprises surface modifications. The invention also provides for the use of the nanoporous non-oxide material in the manufacture of selective gas filters for solid state gas sensors and catalysts for chemical reactions.

Abstract: The invention provides a nanoporous non-oxide material which comprises a modified derivative of silicon nitride and comprises a plurality of nanoscale pores. The nanoporous non-oxide material is preferably prepared by means of a sol-gel procedure and preferably comprises a metal-containing derivative of silicon nitride [SiN4], silicon oxynitride [Si2N2O] or silicon imidonitride [Si3N4-2x(NH)3x] which contains a Group III metal or a transition metal. The nanoporous non-oxide material also additionally comprises surface modifications. The invention also provides for the use of the nanoporous non-oxide material in the manufacture of selective gas filters for solid state gas sensors and catalysts for chemical reactions.

Abstract: The present invention provides for microporous ceramic materials having a surface area in excess of 70 m.sup.2 /gm and an open microporous cell structure wherein the micropores have a mean width of less than 20 Angstroms and wherein said microporous structure comprises a volume of greater than about 0.03 cm.sup.3 /gm of the ceramic. The invention also provides for a preceramic composite intermediate composition comprising a mixture of a ceramic precursor and nanoscale size metallic particles, whose pyrolysis product in inert atmosphere or in an ammonia atmosphere at temperatures of up to less than about 1100.degree. C. gives rise to the microporous ceramics of the invention. Also provided is a process for the preparation of the microporous ceramics of the invention involving pyrolysis of the composite intermediate under controlled conditions of heating up to temperatures of less than about 1100.degree. C. to form a microporous ceramic product.

Abstract: The present invention provides for amorphous, nanoporous, catalytic metal-containing ceramic material having a surface area in excess of 70 m.sup.2 /gm and characterized by a high content of open microporous cell structure wherein the micropores have a mean width of less than 20 Angstroms and wherein said microporous structure comprises a volume of greater than about 0.03 cm.sup.3 /gm of the ceramic. The invention also provides for a preceramic composite intermediate composition comprising a mixture of a ceramic precursor and from about 0.5 up to about 65 wt % of an organometallic compound containing a metal of Group IB, II, III, IV, IV, V, VIB, VIIA or VIII of the Periodic Table, including rare earth metals, whose pyrolysis product in ammonia or an inert atmosphere at temperatures of up to less than about 1100.degree. C. gives rise to the nanoporous catalytic ceramics of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides for microporous ceramic materials having a surface area in excess of 100 m.sup.2 /gm and an open microporous cell structure wherein the micropores have a mean width of less than 20 Angstroms and wherein said microporous structure comprises a volume of greater than about 0.05 cm.sup.3 /gm of the ceramic. The pyrolysis product of ceramic precursor oligomers or polymers having a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 200 to about 100,000 g/mole in an ammonia atmosphere at temperatures of up to less than about 1200.degree. C. gives rise to the microporous ceramics of the invention. Also provided is a process for the preparation of the microporous ceramics of the invention involving pyrolysis of the ceramic precursor under controlled conditions of heating and with intermediate hold times, up to temperatures of less than 1200.degree. C., preferably less than 1000.degree. C., to form a microporous ceramic product.