Aerogels with a microporous crystalline host phase

High-porosity syndiotactic polystyrene aerogels characterized by nanofibrils that give rise to a microporous crystalline delta-phase (see Figure) present a high sorption capacity for volatile organic compounds at low concentrations, typical of the delta-phase, as well as high sorption kinetics, typical of aerogels. These sorption properties make these new aerogels very promising for industrial applications in chemical separations and water purification.