Luminescent Metallo-Supramolecular Polymers

Luminescent metallo-supramolecular polymers are a type of functional supramolecular architectures which integrates the advantages of emission, metal-coordination, supramolecular chemistry as well as polymeric properties to realize advanced functions. Due to the abundant stimuli-responsiveness of supramolecular assemblies and the light-emitting properties, they have been widely applied as chemo-sensors, light-emitting devices, contrast agents for bio-imaging, etc. In this review, we classify luminescent metallo-supramolecular polymers based on the types of species (lanthanides, organometallic compounds, oligomer or polymer-based ligands, small-molecule-based organic ligands) used to generate the luminescence and summarize recent developments of luminescent metallo-supramolecular polymers. We mainly focus on the functions and applications of luminescent metallo-supramolecular polymers and hope to give our reader a snapshot of research on luminescent metallo-supramolecular polymers and encourage more scientists to devote into this promising area.