Applications of Dissipative Supramolecular Materials with a Tunable Lifetime

Supramolecular materials are materials in which molecular building blocks are held together by non-covalent interactions. These materials exist in equilibrium with their environment. In contrast, most biological materials exist out of equilibrium. They require constant dissipation of energy and consumption of nutrients to be sustained. As a result of their non-equilibrium nature, biological materials have superior properties compared to their in-equilibrium counterparts. These properties include spatial and temporal control over their presence, the ability to self-heal and even the ability to self-replicate. Inspired by biology, researchers have developed analogs of such dissipative supramolecular materials. This Focus Review introduces the crucial differences between in-equilibrium and dissipative supramolecular materials. We focus on one unique property of the emerging materials: their tunable lifetime. With recent examples, we show the principles involved and how these materials can be applied in the future.