Recent advances in dynamically photo-responsive metal complexes for optoelectronic applications

Abstract

Photo-responsive metal complexes, which connect certain photo-switches with the distinctive metal ions, have aroused extensive interest in the fields of optoelectronic functional applications. Upon photoisomerization, these metal complexes exhibit dynamically tunable photophysical properties in terms of their absorption ability and range, emission color and intensity, photoisomerization rate, mechanical property, and so on. This review will provide an overview of the recent advances in photo-responsive metal complexes, including small molecules, metal-based macrocycles and supramolecular polymers. Moreover, the responsive mechanisms and design strategies, along with the applications of these photo-responsive metal complexes in optoelectronic devices are also discussed. Finally, the challenges and perspectives on future synthesis and extensive applications of photo-responsive metal complexes are also presented. This review shall offer important guidelines for designing novel photo-responsive metal complexes with controllable responsive behaviors for advanced optoelectronic applications.