Metallopolymers towards sustainable applications

Metallopolymers feature a broad versatility in their properties due to the combination polymers and metal complexes resulting in numerous possible applications. Consequently, future challenges for a more sustainable society can be addressed by metallopolymers thus, they can be applied for self-healing materials or the conversion solar energy as renewable resource. However, the variety of possible applications is also evident in other areas. In this context, an overview of possible of applications of metallopolymers ranging from elf-assembly, stimuli-responsive, (bio-)medicine, (opto-)electronic and catalytic applications, shape-memory as well as self-healing materials are presented. Prominent representatives are the terpyridine complexes that have shown an capability in catalysis and self-healing. Thus, this thesis addressed the investigation of terpyridine- and SCS pincer-containing metallopolymers with potentially photocatalytic properties for the generation of hydrogen and self-healing ability towards scratched samples. In this respect, the macroscopic healing events of and the relying molecular mechanisms of different metal-ligand interactions were investigated in detail. Consequently, these investigations deepened the understanding of self-healing metallopolymers. Furthermore, the stimuli-responsive behavior of a photocatalyst within a hydrogel was demonstrated that potentially offers a restoration or exchanging of the catalytic moieties. Thus, these studies demonstrated the versatility of metallopolymeric applications, but however, the full potential of metallopolymers can only be suggested