Stimuli-responsive coordination polymers toward next-generation smart materials and devices

Stimuli-responsive coordination polymers (CPs) are among one of the most prolific research areas in developing the next-generation functional materials. Their capability of being accurately excited by particular external changes with pre-determined and observable/characterizable behaviours correspond, are the so called “stimuli” and “responsive”. Abundant types of CP compounds, especially metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), are of rocketing interest owing to their compositional diversity, structural tunability, and in essence their highly engineerable functionality. This present review is aimed to sketch several common types of stimulation and the corresponding responses for CPs, accompanied with the broad logic and mechanisms underneath. And further from the aspect of material revolution, some representative progresses together with the latest advances of CP-based materials in various fields are covered in attempt to display a broader picture towards the possible prospects of this topic.