Luminescent organometallic poly(aryleneethynylene)s: functional properties towards implications in molecular optoelectronics

This article highlights recent progress in the development of rigid-rod metallopolyyne polymers of late transition metals which can exhibit easily tunable luminescent and electronic properties. Considerable focus is placed on the design strategies towards the tuning capability of phosphorescence emission color and optical bandgap of this class of luminescent metallopolymers, and the evaluation of their suitability as emitters in light-emitting applications, optical power limiters for sensor protection and semiconductors in organometallic photovoltaic cells. An effective approach based on structural modi. cation of the spacer group can be devised to achieve the full-color phosphorescence emission spanning almost the whole visible spectrum and to tune the material properties of these functional organometallic polymers. The major advances, ongoing challenges and future perspectives of this research frontier are also discussed.