Smart inorganic polymer

Smart inorganic polymers (SIPs) are hybrid or fully inorganic polymers with tunable (smart) properties such as stimuli responsive physical properties (shape, conductivity, rheology, bioactivity, self-repair, sensing etc.). While organic polymers are often petrol-based, the backbones of SIPs are made from elements other than carbon which can lessen the burden on scarce non-renewable resources and provide more sustainable alternatives. Common backbones utilized in SIPs include polysiloxanes, polyphosphates, and polyphosphazenes, to name a few.

SIPs have the potential for broad applicability in diverse fields spanning from drug delivery and tissue regeneration to coatings and electronics. As compared to organic polymers, inorganic polymers in general possess improved performance and environmental compatibility (no need for plasticizers, intrinsically flame-retardant properties). The unique properties of different SIPs can additionally make them useful in a diverse range of technologically novel applications, such as solid polymer electrolytes for consumer electronics, molecular electronics with non-metal elements to replace metal-based conductors, electrochromic materials, self-healing coatings, biosensors, and self-assembling materials.