Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is ideal for applying precise, conformal coatings over nanoporous materials. We have recently used ALD to coat two nanoporous solids: anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) and silica aerogels. AAO possesses hexagonally ordered pores with diameters d∼10 nm and thicknesses L∼70 microns. The AAO membranes were coated by ALD with successive layers of A1203, TiO2 and V2O5 to fabricate catalytic membranes. SEM, TEM and EDAX analysis of the membranes demonstrate that the ALD layers uniformly coat the extremely high aspect ratio (L/d∼104) AAO pores. These catalytic membranes show remarkable selectivity in the oxidative dehydrogenation of cyclohexane. Additional AAO membranes coated with ALD Pd films show promise as hydrogen sensors. Silica aerogels have the lowest density and highest surface area of any solid material. Consequently, these materials serve as an excellent substrate to fabricate novel catalytic materials and gas sensors by ALD. In this study, both thin film and monolithic aerogels were coated by ZnO ALD and the properties of the aerogels were investigated as a function of the coating thickness.

C60 and C70 were synthesized and purified according to published procedures. Both nanosecond and picosecond laser desorption from coated substrates gave copious positive and negative ions. Mass spectra (TOF and FTMS) with excellent signal to noise, showing only the C60 and C70 mass peaks, have been observed. Well-resolved isotopic structure was seen in the FTMS spectra in agreement with the natural abundance of carbon. Laser desorption and multiphoton ionization/photodissociation of the neutral species, as well as electronic absorption, FTIR, and fluorescence spectra, have been obtained.