Metal-Backboned Polymers: from Synthetic Methodologies to Structure-Property Insights

Yedong Qin; Zihao Zhao; Jizeng Liu; Jiayi Shen; Zhijing Wu; Kaiwen Zeng; Huisheng Peng

doi:10.1007/s10118-026-3850-z

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Metal-Backboned Polymers: from Synthetic Methodologies to Structure-Property Insights

FEATURE ARTICLE | Updated：2026-09-18

- Metal-Backboned Polymers: from Synthetic Methodologies to Structure-Property Insights
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Pages: 1-9(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science, and Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
- Author bio：
  
  zengkw@fudan.edu.cn (K.Z.)
  penghs@fudan.edu.cn (H.P.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3850-z
  CLC：
- Received：10 July 2026，
  
  Accepted：15 August 2026，
  
  Online First：18 September 2026，
  
  Published：2026-08
- Accepted：
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Qin, Y.; Zhao, Z.; Liu, J.; Shen, J.; Wu, Z.; Zeng, K.; Peng, H. Metal-backboned polymers: from synthetic methodologies to structure-property insights. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-026-3850-z

Yedong Qin, Zihao Zhao, Jizeng Liu, et al. Metal-Backboned Polymers: from Synthetic Methodologies to Structure-Property Insights[J/OL]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 441-9.
Qin, Y.; Zhao, Z.; Liu, J.; Shen, J.; Wu, Z.; Zeng, K.; Peng, H. Metal-backboned polymers: from synthetic methodologies to structure-property insights. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-026-3850-z DOI：

Yedong Qin, Zihao Zhao, Jizeng Liu, et al. Metal-Backboned Polymers: from Synthetic Methodologies to Structure-Property Insights[J/OL]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 441-9. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3850-z.

摘要

Abstract

The polymer properties are fundamentally dictated by the chemical nature of the backbones. Metal-backboned polymers (MBPs)

in which conventional non-metallic backbones are replaced by continuous chains of metal atoms linked by metal-metal bonds

open a largely unexplored dimension in polymeric materials. Their unique electronic coupling

magnetic interactions

and optical responses enable a wide range of new functionalities. Despite this promise

the development of MBPs is hindered by two intertwined challenges: the lack of robust synthetic methodologies and the absence of systematic structure-property relationships to guide predictive design. From this Perspective

we provide a systematic overview that bridges synthetic methodologies with structure-property insights for MBPs. First

we critically examined two principal synthetic strategies

direct metal-metal bonding and multidentate-ligand-assisted template synthesis

and assessed their efficiency

precision

scope

and limitations. We further discuss how metal identity

ligand architecture

and chain length affect the physicochemical properties of MBPs

revealing key structure-property relationships. Finally

we identify the major challenges and emerging opportunities to move the field from molecular construction to predictive design

including machine-learning-assisted design and single-molecule characterization. Such developments will facilitate precise and scalable synthesis

as well as quantitative structure-property studies

paving the way toward MBPs with programmable and increasingly sophisticated functions.

关键词

Keywords

references

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