Over the past decades, there has been a flourishing of phase-separated polymer gels. Unlike traditional design methods that rely on chemical structure and polymer network construction, phase separation enables polymers to tune morphologies across the microscopic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic levels, thereby creating a new path for regulating and innovating the performance of polymer gels. This comprehensive review offers a deep dive into the mechanisms underlying phase separation formation in polymer gels and makes a particular focus on the methods used to induce phase separation in polymer gels. Additionally, the review highlights the potential performance improvements and innovations of polymer gels based on phase separation and explores the promising applications of phase separation polymers in various fields. Finally, this review emphasizes the potential benefits yet significant challenges associated with phase-separated polymer gels. The versatility and multi-scale applicability of this approach make it a promising pathway for developing cutting-edge materials with tailored properties and functionalities.

中文翻译：

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在聚合物凝胶中构建相分离：策略、功能和应用


在过去的几十年里，相分离聚合物凝胶蓬勃发展。与依赖化学结构和聚合物网络构建的传统设计方法不同，相分离使聚合物能够在微观、介观和宏观层面上调节形态，从而为调控和创新聚合物凝胶的性能开辟了一条新途径。这篇全面的综述深入探讨了聚合物凝胶中相分离形成的机制，并特别关注了用于诱导聚合物凝胶中相分离的方法。此外，该综述还强调了基于相分离的聚合物凝胶的潜在性能改进和创新，并探讨了相分离聚合物在各个领域的有前景的应用。最后，这篇综述强调了与相分离聚合物凝胶相关的潜在好处和重大挑战。这种方法的多功能性和多尺度适用性使其成为开发具有定制特性和功能的尖端材料的有前途的途径。