Recent advances in AIE polymers

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) polymers are a series of novel luminescent materials. These materials have experienced an exponential growth of research interests and are rapidly developing into an emerging field. AIE polymers boast high aggregated-state emissions, diverse structures and the use of various synthetic methods for preparation; they also demonstrate good solubility and processability compared with AIE small molecules. Furthermore, additional functionalities can be introduced into AIE polymers through a large number of simple and convenient synthetic strategies. Great progress has been made after the publication of a comprehensive review on AIE macromolecules. Herein, the newly developed AIE polymer systems are summarized, with an emphasis on the synthetic methods used to generate the polymers and their structures and applications. The structural design and synthetic approaches of a series of functional nonconjugated or conjugated AIE linear polymers with AIEgens on the side chains or main chains, as well as star-shaped or hyperbranched AIE polymers with AIEgens on the core or terminal parts are discussed. The advanced performance of AIE polymers in a series of practical applications, such as fluorescent sensors, stimuli-responsive materials, biological applications, porous materials and circularly polarized luminescence, is also introduced. The rapid development and large variety of potential applications of AIE polymers have demonstrated that this prosperous and promising field presents great opportunities.