Rational design of bifunctional conjugated microporous polymers

Conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) are an emerging class of porous organic polymers that combine π-conjugated skeletons with permanent micropores. Since their first report in 2007, the enormous exploration of linkage types, building units, and synthetic methods for CMPs have facilitated their potential applications in various areas, from gas separations to energy storage. Owning to their unique construction, CMPs offer the opportunity for the precise design of conjugated skeletons and pore environment engineering, which allow the construction of functional porous materials at the molecular level. The capability to chemically alter CMPs to targeted applications allows for the fine adaptation of functionalities for the ever-changing environments and necessities. Bifunctional CMPs are a branch of functionalized CMPs that have caught the interest of researchers because of their inherent synergistic systems that can expand their applications and optimize their performance. This review discusses the rational design and synthesis of bifunctional CMPs and summarizes their advanced applications. To conclude, our own perspective on the research prospects of these types of materials is outlined.