Self‐Healing Dynamic Polymeric Systems

The concept of self‐healing has created a paradigm shift in the development of a new kind of responsive polymeric materials, which have traditionally been used in a passive role. Inspired by nature, the advancements made in this nascent field of research have given materials the ability of not only sensing damage but also responding and mending themselves in an appropriate manner. Self‐healing in polymers can be autonomous, without the need for human intervention, or nonautonomous, requiring some form of external stimulus. The latter type involves the incorporation of dynamic bonds within the polymeric system, giving the ability to heal multiple times. This minireview discusses some of the prominent self‐healing polymeric systems that harness different dynamic bond chemistries, with the aim of highlighting the potential of dynamic bonds to prepare such advanced materials.