Recent Progress in Light-Scattering Porous Polymers and Their Applications

Conventional 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.