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

Abstract 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.