Rapid (<3 min) microwave synthesis of block copolymer templated ordered mesoporous metal oxide and carbonate films using nitrate-citric acid systems.

Rapid chemical transformation from micelle templated precursors (metal nitrate and citric acid) to ordered mesoporous metal carbonates and oxides is demonstrated using microwave heating for cobalt, copper, manganese and zinc. Without aging requirements, <3 min of microwave processing yields highly ordered mesoporous films.