Efficient Access to Functionalized Mesoporous Materials with Bicontinuous Morphologies via Kinetic Approach

In this work, we developed an approach that can simultaneously control the morphology and pore-surface chemistry of mesoporous materials. By introducing diols as ‘non-covalent cross-linking agents’, microphase separation of polystyrene-b-poly(4-vinylpyridine)-b-polylactide triblock terpolymers can be tuned, leading to the formation of long-lived metastable phase with disordered bicontinuous morphology. After removing polylactide end-block by selectively etching, mesoporous structures can be achieved, but poly(4-vinylpyridine) mid-blocks will be preserved on the inner wall of pores. We demonstrate that the prepared mesoporous materials can be applied as adsorbents for organic dyes and metal ions. This work provides new insight into the development of functionalized mesoporous materials.