Combining scanning electron microscopy and fast Fourier transform for characterizing mesopore and defect structures in mesoporous materials

The mesopore structure is normally determined through Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). In this study, a novel technique is proposed for assessing the surface and interior planar pore structures, plane groups of ordered pore arrangements and defect structures in a number of mesoporous materials through a combination of SEM imaging, ion milling and fast Fourier transformation (FFT). This strategy provides a unique and facile approach to characterize the surface and inner pore structures and interior defects of bulky mesoporous materials with varied complex structures.