Strategies for the synthesis of water-soluble conjugated polymers

Conjugated polymers are now found in a wide array of applications, ranging from printable electronics to biophotonics. In that regard, research tends now to develop better ways of making these polymeric materials, starting from synthesis to processing. The utilization of eco-friendly and non-toxic solvents, such as water, would certainly allow for significant progress in that direction. While few solvents can claim being greener than water, the synthesis of water-soluble organic conjugated materials can be challenging. This review focuses on different polymerization and synthetic strategies to obtain these polymers. To conclude, challenges, future directions, and perspectives of water-soluble conjugated polymers will also be discussed.