Recent Progress in Light‐Scattering Porous Polymers and Their Applications

Abstract

AbstractConventional inorganic‐nanoparticles‐based scattering systems have dominated many practical applications for years. In contrast, the rise of porous polymers is perceived as a game‐changer due to their low cost, facile preparation, and great abundance. One challenging issue to be tackled is the design and fabrication of porous polymers with light‐scattering properties comparable to those of inorganic nanoparticles. Taking inspiration from nature (e.g., from white beetles Cyphochilus), scientists have achieved remarkable progress in the field of light‐scattering porous polymers and their related applications in recent years. Therefore, here, an up‐to‐date review about this emerging field is provided. This overview covers materials for making porous polymer structures, detailed fabrication methods, and applications benefitting from their tailorable light‐scattering properties. It is envisioned that more bioinspired light‐scattering porous polymers will be made to be potential alternatives of conventional nanoparticles‐based scatterers.