Self-Healing Functional Polymeric Materials

Self-healing materials have been intensively investigated in recent decades, whereby the healing process was mostly based on the restoration of mechanical properties after mechanical damage. However, self-healing functional polymeric materials have now become the focus of research. In recent years, several approaches have been developed for self-healing of conductivity as well as the restoration of optical properties. In contrast to the healing of mechanical properties, such as stiffness and strength, the self-healing of functional materials focuses on the restoration of functionalities after damage caused by harmful environments (e.g., high temperatures or irradiation). The ultimate goal is the investigation or mimicking of a multifunctional self-healing system (e.g., biological material). In this review, the current state of the art in self-healing functional polymeric materials is summarized. In particular, we discuss self-healing conductive materials, healable optoelectronics, and functional coatings.