title: Two-dimensional polymers: concepts and perspectives.
abstract: Creation of polymers comprised of repeat units that can create topologically planar macromolecules (rather than linear) has been the topic of several recent studies in the field of synthetic polymer chemistry. Such novel macromolecules, known as 2D polymers, are the result of advanced synthetic methodology which allows creation of monolayer sheets with a periodic internal structure and functional groups placed at predetermined sites under mild conditions. Given the promising potentials of 2D polymers, this feature paper aims at discussing the concept of these novel macromolecules from a topological viewpoint in Section 1. This is followed by spotlighting the expected behavior of 2D polymers in the context of polymer physics (entropy elasticity, strength, percolation, and persistence) and polymer chemistry (copolymers and growth kinetics) in Section 2. Section 3 delineates synthetic and analytical matters associated with 2D polymers followed by a brief final section highlighting the potential of these sheet-like macromolecules for application purposes. We hope this article will trigger the interest of chemists, physicists and engineers to help develop this encouraging new class of materials further such that societally relevant applications will be accessible in the market soon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials, Institute of Polymers, Polymer Chemistry, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland. ads@mat.ethz.ch.
authors.forename: Payam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Payamyar
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557-0216, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials, Institute of Polymers, Polymer Physics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Hans Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Öttinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials, Institute of Polymers, Polymer Chemistry, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland. ads@mat.ethz.ch.
authors.forename: A Dieter
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Schlüter