The present disclosure discloses a ceramic material having a positive slow release effect and a method for manufacturing the same. The ceramic material comprises a hierarchically meso-macroporous structure which composition at least includes silicon and oxygen, wherein the hierarchically meso-macroporous structure includes a plurality of macropores and a wall having a plurality of arranged mesopores, and the plurality of macropores are separated by the wall; and nano-scale metal particles confined in at least one of the plurality of arranged mesopores. The nano-scale metal particles have a positive slow release effect from the at least one of the plurality of arranged mesopores. The ceramic material has a property of inhibiting growth of microorganisms or killing the microorganisms in an environment or a system containing a hydrophilic medium.

Foam compositions comprising an inorganic resin matrix or a polymer-derived ceramic matrix are provided, as well as methods of fabricating the same. The foams may or may not contain additional functional fillers to control mechanical and/or thermophysical properties. The foam materials can include a novel combination of tailorable inorganic siloxane resins with unique fillers, and unique methods of producing the desired porosity. Unlike related art foams, the foams of embodiments of the subject invention can be inorganic-resin-based, and can be closed cell foams or semi-closed cell foams.