Elemental Selenium/Tellurium in Polymer Assemblies: Responsive Innovation

In recent decades, significant advancements have been achieved in the field of polymer self-assembly. Among various polymer assemblies, the unique chemical properties of selenium and tellurium have established a robust foundation for the development of functional polymer assemblies that incorporate these elements. Polymer assemblies containing selenium and tellurium have garnered significant attention due to their sensitive responsiveness to stimuli and their precise biological functions. In this review, we summarize the research findings on selenium- and tellurium-containing polymer assemblies. The article elaborates on the applications of selenium- and tellurium-containing polymer assemblies in redox responsive materials, gamma-ray (γ-Ray) responsive materials, light responsive materials, and coordination responsive materials. Finally, the research on selenium and tellurium-containing polymer assemblies lays a methodological foundation for the development of new functional materials driven by elemental characteristics.