Metallo-polyelectrolytes as a class of ionic macromolecules for functional materials.

Zhu, Tianyu; Sha, Ye; Yan, Jing; Pageni, Parasmani; Rahman, Md Anisur; Yan, Yi; Tang, Chuanbing · Nat Commun · 2018

review · Level V

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Abstract

The fields of soft polymers and macromolecular sciences have enjoyed a unique combination of metals and organic frameworks in the name of metallopolymers or organometallic polymers. When metallopolymers carry charged groups, they form a class of metal-containing polyelectrolytes or metallo-polyelectrolytes. This review identifies the unique properties and functions of metallo-polyelectrolytes compared with conventional organo-polyelectrolytes, in the hope of shedding light on the formation of functional materials with intriguing applications and potential benefits. It concludes with a critical perspective on the challenges and hurdles for metallo-polyelectrolytes, especially experimental quantitative analysis and theoretical modeling of ionic binding.

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