Chemically resistant isoporous crosslinked block copolymer structure

1. A method of preparing a self-assembled multiblock crosslinked polymer material, comprising:

a) forming an isoporous structure comprising macropores and mesopores, from a multi-block copolymer material, wherein the multi-block copolymer material comprises polymer chains, wherein polymer chain comprises a first distinct block which is a poly(4-vinylpyridine); and

wherein the forming includes allowing the multi-block copolymer material to self assemble into a bulk layer having a thickness of 2 microns to 500 microns and a second layer having a thickness of 5 nm to 500 nm, wherein the bulk layer comprises macropores having a size of 200 nm to 100 microns, wherein the second layer comprises mesopores having a size of 1 nm to 200 nm, and wherein a portion of macropores and/or mesopores are isoporous; and

b) then crosslinking a portion of the first distinct block with a second distinct block which is a poly(4-vinylpyridine); wherein the first and second distinct blocks are on different polymer chains; and wherein the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of (a) a molecule having two α,β-unsaturated carbonyl groups, bonded through their respective β-carbons, to a C 1 -C 12 unsaturated or saturated carbon chain; and (b) a molecule having one α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group bonded from the β carbon to a C 1 -C 12 unsaturated or saturated carbon chain comprising a CH 2 —I group.

2. A self-assembled multi-block cross-linked polymer material, comprising polymer chains,

wherein each polymer chain comprises distinct blocks,

wherein a portion of a first distinct block is a poly(4-vinylpyridine),

wherein the portion of the first distinct block is crosslinked to a poly(4-vinylpyridine) on a second distinct block on a different polymer chain, wherein the cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of (a) a molecule having two α,β-unsaturated carbonyl groups bonded from their respective beta carbons to a C 1 -C 12 unsaturated or saturated carbon chain; and; (b) a molecule having an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group bonded from the β carbon to a C 1 -C 12 unsaturated or saturated carbon chain comprising a CH 2 —I;

wherein the first distinct block and second distinct block are on different polymer chains;

wherein the self-assembled multi-block cross-linked polymer material has a bulk layer having a thickness of 2 microns to 500 microns and a second layer of thickness of 5 nm to 500 nm;

wherein the bulk layer comprises macropores having a size of 200 nm to 100 microns; and

wherein the second layer comprises mesopores having a size of 1 nm to 200 nm; and

wherein at least a portion the macropores and/or a portion of the mesopores are isoporous and wherein the self-assembled multi-block cross-linked polymer material is resistant to non-aqueous liquid.

3. A pleated pack, flat sheets in a crossflow cassette, a spiral wound module, hollow fiber, a hollow fiber module, or a sensor comprising the material of claim 2 .

4. The material of claim 2 , wherein the material further comprises a porous support onto which the material is self-assembled.

5. The material of claim 2 , wherein the material is formed into a three-dimensional structure.

6. The material of claim 2 , wherein both the macropores of the bulk layer and the mesopores of the second layer are crosslinked.

7. The material of claim 2 , wherein the at least two polymer chains comprise poly(isoprene)-b-(styrene)-b-(4-vinylpyridine) (ISV).

8. The material of claim 2 , wherein the material is used as a separation media, or as a fabric.

9. The material of claim 2 , wherein the cross-linked polymer material exhibits increased resistance to harsh media compared to the uncross-linked material.

10. The material of claim 2 , wherein the cross-linked polymer material exhibits increased resistance to temperature compared to the uncross-linked material.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the self-assembled multi-block cross-linked polymer material is formed by

a) dissolving the multi-block polymer in at least one chemical solvent to form a polymer solution;

b) dispensing the polymer solution onto a substrate or mold, or through a die or template;

c) removing of at least a portion of chemical solvent from the dispensed polymer solution;

d) exposing the remaining polymer solution to a non-solvent causing precipitation of at least a portion of the polymer; and

e) exposing the precipitated multiblock polymer to a cross-linking agent.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the polymer solution is dispensed through a die.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the multi-block polymer comprises at least one block comprising at least one aromatic ring that crosslinks upon UV radiation exposure.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one block comprising at least one aromatic ring that crosslinks upon UV radiation exposure crosslinks in the presence of a UV-activated radical initiator.