Metalloid-bridged π-conjugated materials: Synthetic strategies to Opto-electronic, catalytic and biological applications

Research on π-conjugated materials incorporating main group elements has flourished over the last few decades and continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. The interest in this research area is primarily driven by the need to replace inorganic semiconductors with cheaper, more environmentally friendly alternatives. Inorganic semiconductors can be costly to fabricate, difficult to process, pose challenges in large-area applications and post-use disposal. Furthermore, substituting a main group element such as C, N, S, or Se with one or more heavier metalloids leads to interactions of the low-lying p/σ* orbitals of the metalloids with the π* orbitals of the conjugated system, thereby altering the energy levels. This intriguing feature has sparked significant research interest. This review highlights the advances made in the field of metalloid-bridged π-conjugated materials, covering their synthesis, photophysical properties, structure-property relationships and applications. Additionally, we outline future directions and challenges in this research area. • The state-of-the-art synthetic strategies for the synthesis of metalloid-bridged π-conjugated complexes and materials. • The structure-property relationships displayed by metalloid-embedded conjugated materials. • Comparisons between metalloid-bridged π-conjugated complexes and materials and their lighter analogues. • Applications of metalloid-bridged π-conjugated complexes and materials in various fields.