Preparation of a compressible and hierarchically porous polyimide sponge via the sol–gel process of an aliphatic tetracarboxylic dianhydride and an aromatic triamine

A compressible and monolithic microporous polyimide sponge was prepared from an aliphatic tetracarboxylic dianhydride and an aromatic triamine. The sponge had a hierarchical pore structure, in which spherical microporous polyimide particles were interconnected to form a macroscopic network. It showed an amphiphilic character, because of the balanced presence of hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups.