Direct preparation and conversion of copper hydroxide-based monolithic xerogels with hierarchical poresElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: X-ray diffraction patterns of the samples calcined in argon at 800 °C followed by calcination in air at 400 °C and TG-DTA curves of the sample calcined in argon at 800 °C and one calcined in argon at 800 °C followed by calcination in air at 400 °C. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nj00479a

Copper hydroxide-based monolithic xerogels with controlled hierarchical pores have been prepared directly by a sol-gel process from an ionic precursor, CuCl 2 ·2H 2 O. Propylene oxide acts as a gelation inducer by increasing pH homogeneously in a reaction solution. Poly(acrylamide) is utilized not only to control macroscopic phase separation but also to support the network physically. Glycerol contributes to the formation of monolithic gels by suppressing the growth of copper hydroxide crystals. An appropriate starting composition leads to co-continuous gel skeletons and macropores. Although the as-dried gels were amorphous, post-treatments (calcination and solvothermal treatment) formed metallic copper and copper oxides (CuO and Cu 2 O) without the collapse of the monolithic form and macrostructure. Copper hydroxide-based xerogels with hierarchical pores were prepared directly and converted to porous materials with a different valency of copper by heat treatment.