Abstract

In material synthesis, nanoconfnement acts both as a physical reactor to tune the shape and size of nanomaterials, and as a chemical microenvironment for the nucleation and growth of nanoconfned substances, resulting in unique material properties. This nanoconfnement efect has been extensively applied to synthesize materials for hydrogen storage, catalysis and separation for environmental protection. Here, we review methods to construct nanoconfned space in carbon materials, metal–organic frameworks, mesoporous silica, porous organic polymers and MXenes, a class of two-dimensional inorganic compounds. We discuss nanoconfnement for enhanced adsorption with focus on covering size and dispersion, crystallization and stability, confned water and coordination.

Keywords Nanoconfnement · Nanoconfned space · Host material · Nanoconfned synthesis · Nanoconfnement efect · Adsorption