Hierarchical bicontinuous porosity in metal-organic frameworks templated from functional block co-oligomer micelles

The synthesis of stable bicontinuous hierarchically porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is described. Two functional block co-oligomer templates were used independently, i.e. poly(styrene)-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) and poly(styrene)-block-poly(acrylic acid). Two prototypical MOFs, ZIF-8 and HKUST-1, were selected to demonstrate our approach. The resulting materials resemble the microstructures of bicontinuous silica aerogels. They exhibit interconnected porosities throughout the micro-, meso- and macro-porous regions, as shown by electron microscopy and pore size distribution analyses.