Poly(p-vinylbenzoic acid)-block-polystyrene Self-assembled Structures as Templates in the Synthesis of ZIF-8

Hybrid nanocrystals of PVBA-b-PS/ZIF-8 were prepared by the growth of ZIF-8 on the surface of the self-assembled structures from poly(p-vinylbenzoic acid)-block-polystyrene. Two different morphologies-micelles and vesicles-were obtained in selective solvents owing to the different ratios of PVBA to PS blocks. The structure and morphology of the PVBA-b-PS/ZIF-8 composites were characterized by Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. PVBA-b-PS/ZIF-8 showed high catalytic performance in Knoevenagel condensation reactions at room temperature, which were attributed to the more exposed active sites of the small ZIF-8 nanocrystals grown in a confined space and a high concentration of reactants in the polymeric aggregates.