This dataset contains primary and processed data files obtained by the Bill group for the related publication. The data from the other collaborating groups are included in a separate dataset. This dataset consists of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) nitrogen sorption data. The following data formats are used: .tif, .png, .pdf, and .lsm. The dataset follows the same labelling as the publication.

CLSM images saved as *.lsm files can be opened with the original software of the microscope ZEN (Carl Zeiss, Jena, Germany) or with the open access program ImageJ (https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/download.html).