Emerging Metal–Polymer Frameworks: Structure, Applications, and Perspectives

Coordination polymers, with metal–organic frameworks as a notable representative, can be obtained by a simple metal coordination strategy. Their versatility in architectural designs often result in extraordinary material properties, such as strength and toughness, magnetism, conductivity, luminescence, and catalytic functions, thus attracting extensive attention and wide applications. Recently, researchers have innovatively coordinated metal ions with polymer molecular chains to develop a new type of coordination polymer, termed metal–polymer frameworks. This Review summarizes recent advances in metal–polymer frameworks by first introducing the structure and properties of the novel metal–polymer frameworks. Based on the unique properties of the metal–polymer frameworks, their applications are discussed in detail in the fields of energy storage, separation membranes, flexible materials, healthcare, and so on, demonstrating their potentials in some of the most urgent fields. By discussing their future research trends, this review aims to advance the development of emerging metal–polymer framework materials to inspire material innovations and widen their applications in more important fields.