Ice-templating (or freeze-casting) is a processing technique for macroporous materials , investigated for its potential in applications as diverse as sensors , filtration , oil absorption , CO 2 capture and energy storage , microwave absorption , tissue engineering , oxygen transport membranes , sound adsorber , solid oxide fuel cells , or batteries . The process consists in freezing particle suspensions, which induces a segregation of particles by the solidification front. After solidification, the frozen solvent is removed, leaving pores which morphologies are a replica of the sublimated crystals. Finally, the green body is sintered to consolidate the microstructure. A feature of this processing method that is both an advantage and a drawback is the mechanical anisotropy exhibited by the unidirectional macroporous structure, similar to honeycomb structures. Although this anisotropy offers a reinforcement in the direction parallel to the pores , the weaker resistance in the perpendicular direction prevents their use in applications with a multiaxial stress field.