TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The precursor further comprises a carbon precursor phase and a sacrificial phase. The precursor material comprises monomeric units derived from acrylonitrile-based monomers. The sacrificial material comprises monomeric units derived from butyl acrylate monomers. The phase separated copolymer comprises at least one copolymer comprising an AB block copolymer, an ABA block copolymer, an ABC block copolymer, multiblock copolymers, graft copolymers, symmetrical and asymmetrical star copolymers, multiarm block copolymer, (hyper)branched copolymers, brush copolymers or a blend of these polymers. It comprises free radically (co)polymerizable monomers or a functional group. The functional group comprises a transition metal. The free radically (co)polymerizable monomers comprise at least styrenes, (meth)acrylates or (meth)acrylonitrile.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Process: Pyrolyzing the precursor comprises carbonizing the precursor material and pyrolyzing the sacrificial material. It comprises heating the precursor to 1000-1400 degrees F. Heating the precursor is conducted in the absence of oxygen. The nanostructured materials comprise carbides. EXAMPLE - 0.1 g macroinitiator containing 56% polymethyl methacrylate and 44% poly BPEMA of molecular weight 56.66 kg/mol was dissolved in 20 ml degassed n-BA and 2 ml butanone. The solution was degassed by the FPT procedure (3 times), and while it was frozen, the flask was filled with nitrogen and 0.0183 g copper bromide (CuBr), 0.016 g CuBr2 (5% vs. CuBr), and 0.106 g dNbpy were added. The mixture was degassed again twice using FPT procedure. The reaction was carried out at 70 degrees C. Samples were taken after 62 and 90 hours. After this time, the mixture was dissolved in 30 ml tetrahydrofuran (THF) and filtered through a column filled with alumina. The alumina was washed with 30 ml THF and the solvent was removed. The molecular weight of the obtained brush-like polymer increased nicely as the reaction proceeded. No tailing was observed in the GPC.