NOVELTY - Formation of a mesoscopically structured inorganic material (A) comprises: (i) combining an amphipathic block copolymer (II) with an inorganic compound (III) of a multivalent metal so that (II) and (III) are self-aggregated and polymerized into a mesoscopically structured composite; then (ii) polymerizing this composite.    USE - (A) are used particularly for separation of (1) biomolecules, specifically enzymes and proteins, from a biological sample or synthesis mixture or (2) (in)organic compounds from solution. Other possible uses are in catalysis; molecular separations; fuel cells; as adsorbents (e.g. for environmental clean-up, of polycyclic aromatics, heavy metals etc.); in optoelectronic devices, e.g. as on-chip connectors; in chemical or biological sensors; in photocatalytic water splitting; as medical implants and in sensor arrays. (A) which are macroporous with a mesoscopically structured surface area, may be separately functionalized in the different pores to impart adsorptive or catalytic reaction selectivities.    ADVANTAGE - (II), which are inexpensive, non-toxic and biodegradable, act as structure-forming agent for the metal oxides in a self-assembling system, and by varying the nature of (II) the porosity of can be controlled precisely. (A) have a high degree of order in the 100-200 Angstrom range; extremely high surface area; low dielectric constant; large anisotropy and can accommodate very large molecules while retaining the structure and transparency of fully densified silicates. (A) are inexpensive, easy to make and resistant to light-induced corrosion.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for the following:    (a) (A) prepared from (II) and (III);    (b) thermally stable mesoscopically ordered structures (A1) composed of (III) and having a narrow distribution of mesoscopic pores;    (c) mesoporous multivalent metal oxide (A2) with meso scale pores and surface area at least 100 m2 g-1; and    (d) macroporous multivalent metal oxide material (B) with an ordered mesoporous surface area.