Polymer-Iodine Complexes in Aqueous Systems
Summary
Polymer-iodine complexes in aqueous media arise from the interplay of host–guest interactions, charge-transfer phenomena and polymer chain conformation. Common hosts include helix-forming polysaccharides such as starch and synthetic polymers like polyvinyl alcohol. In water, iodine and iodide species self-organise into polyiodide chains or clusters within polymeric cavities, yielding coloured charge-transfer assemblies whose stability depends on pH, ionic strength and polymer architecture. Structural methods ranging from spectroscopy to hybrid X-ray/neutron diffraction have revealed how statistical disorder, host hydrophobicity and hydrogen bonding govern iodine loading and release. Such complexes have found widespread use as antiseptics with controlled-release profiles, colourimetric sensors, and high-performance polarising films in display technologies. Challenges remain in modulating polyiodide chain length, understanding dynamic speciation in situ and designing new polymer scaffolds for targeted iodine delivery or optical functionality.
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Polymer-Iodine Complexes in Aqueous Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in polymer-iodine complexes in aqueous systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Inclusion complex: A host–guest assembly in which a guest molecule is non-covalently held within the cavity of a host polymer.
Polyiodide: A chain or cluster of iodine atoms and ions linked by charge-transfer interactions within a polymer matrix.
Charge-transfer complex: A non-covalent association between an electron donor and acceptor resulting in characteristic absorption bands.
Dichroic species: Iodine or polyiodide ions (e.g. I3−, I5−) exhibiting anisotropic light absorption when aligned in a stretched polymer film.
Helix-forming polysaccharide: A polysaccharide that adopts a helical conformation capable of hosting iodine or other guest molecules within its helical cavity.
References
- Hybridization of Wide-Angle X-ray and Neutron Diffraction Techniques in the Crystal Structure Analyses of Synthetic Polymers. Polymers (2023).
- The Iodine/Iodide/Starch Supramolecular Complex. Molecules (2024).
- Effect of KI Concentration in Correcting Tank on Optical Properties of PVA Polarizing Film. Polymers (2022).
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