Photopolymerized sol-gel column and associated methods

A method of preparing a porous matrix in a separation column, comprising:

• providing a separation column;
• providing an initial mixture of at least one porogen, at least one metal alkoxide, and at least one photoactive material selected from a group consisting of a photoactive group associated with the metal organic monomer, a photoinitiator, and any combination thereof, such that a resulting mixture that results from said initial mixture comprises a metal organic compound;
• introducing the resulting mixture into the column;
• and
• irradiating the resulting mixture to form, via photoinitiated polymerization, a fritless, porous matrix comprising a metal organic polymer in the column.