Conjugated depolymerizable organic excitonic polymeric materials: a platform for functional and sustainable electronics

Abstract Organic excitonic polymeric materials underpin a wide range of optoelectronic, photonic, and biointerfacing technologies, from organic photovoltaics and light-emitting devices to near-infrared imaging and organic bioelectronics. With increased use in biological, wearable, and environmentally transient contexts, the need and interest for chemically degradable and depolymerizable organic excitonic systems is growing more apparent. Traditionally, high excitonic and electronic performance has been associated with uninterrupted π -conjugation along polymer backbones. However, emerging evidence demonstrates that efficient excitonic function can persist, and in some cases be enhanced, in architectures that intentionally break or segment conjugation. In this Perspective, we examine recent advances in degradable organic excitonic conjugated polymers through an architecture-driven lens, spanning fully conjugated backbones, partially conjugated and pseudo-conjugated polymers, and systems incorporating dynamic covalent linkages. By summarizing developments across organic electronics, photonic nanomaterials, and bioelectronics, we highlight common excitonic principles that unify these seemingly disparate approaches. Emerging evidence suggests that efficient excitonic and charge-transport behavior can persist even in partially conjugated or dynamically bonded architectures when intermolecular packing and energetic homogeneity are preserved. At the same time, most current degradable strategies still exhibit important trade-offs between device performance, operational stability, and chemically accessible degradation triggers. This Perspective outlines key opportunities for future research toward organic excitonic materials that balance functional performance with controlled degradation and circular lifecycle considerations.