Perspectives of the smart Cu-Iodine coordination polymers: A portage to the world of new nanomaterials and composites

Abstract

This work is focused on the chemistry and physical properties of a particular family of coordination polymers (CPs) based on copper-iodine chains bearing functionalized pyridine, pyrimidine and pyrazine ligands. Although this family of compounds has been well-described, most of the studies have been focused on structural characterization and optical properties in bulk scale while works rationalizing their stimuli-responsive behavior and the role of these materials at the nanoscale are being reported very rencently. This article describes the first works in these fields and the perspectives that nanoscaled CPs based on Cu(I)-halide will have in the near future. Thus, the aim of this review is to present the new perspectives that are opening for these materials by deepening in their behavior, considering theoretical calculations, size-dependent properties or their combination with other components to form new hybrid materials. The combination of all these aspects will allow the discovery of interesting materials useful in sensing, nanochips or packaging, among other uses.