Metallosupramolecular polymers: current status and future prospects

Metallo-supramolecular polymers have gained increasing attention and witnessed continuous development as a vibrant new research interest in the domain of soft materials. These nonconventional polymers have found widespread application in materials and biology owing to their well-defined and diversified topologies and the distinct dynamic nature of the metallosupramolecular interactions against various stimuli. Because of the intriguing redox, photonic, electronic, and magnetic properties, these stimuli-responsive supramolecular structures have attracted considerable interest for optoelectronic device fabrication. However, it still remains challenging to develop stimuli responsive systems with offbeat applications. Furthermore, achieving spatiotemporal control remains elusive with thermoresponsive and sono-responsive metallosupramolecular polymers, which encounter the disadvantage of poor precision control. Additionally, controlling the morphology of these soft materials on the mesoscale, both in solution and on substrates, has many challenges. In this review, we discuss the recent developments and future directions for the construction of stimuli responsive metallosupramolecular systems targeting practical applications. Furthermore, we discuss the synthetic methodologies that have been used to regulate the mesoscale morphology of these materials, such as coordination modulation and pseudomorphic replication. Finally, we briefly cover the burgeoning field of programmed synthesis of metallosupramolecular polymers, emphasizing techniques, such as living polymerization and chemical fuel-driven transiently active systems, which we believe will be the major research directions in the future. Metallo-supramolecular polymers have gained increasing attention and witnessed continuous development as a vibrant new research interest in the domain of soft materials.

Automated summary

Metallo-supramolecular polymers have gained attention and development in the field of soft materials due to their well-defined topologies and dynamic metallosupramolecular interactions. These stimuli-responsive supramolecular structures have potential applications in optoelectronic device fabrication, but challenges remain in developing systems with offbeat applications and achieving precise control. Controlling the morphology of these soft materials also presents challenges. This review discusses recent developments and future directions, including synthetic methodologies and programmed synthesis techniques, for constructing stimuli-responsive metallosupramolecular systems.