Figure 7. Optical characterization of a silica-templated aerogel and its corresponding adsorptive properties. (a) POM image of the long-range ordered silica aerogel which exhibits strong birefringence. (b) Top view of the obtained silica aerogel at low magnification. (c) TEM image of the silica aerogel. The arrow indicates the direction of pore orientation. (d) Nitrogen adsorption isotherm for the silica aerogels.