Smart polymer materials driven by chemical oscillating reactions are often called self-oscillating polymer materials (SOPMs). Among these, SOPMs driven by the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction are paid particular attention and have become one of the hot topics in the field of polymer materials. Different from the traditional smart polymers, SOPMs show highly self-regulated properties, namely autonomous, reversible and periodical state transition without any “ON-OFF” switching of external stimuli. In this review, we will introduce the new ideas and new methods regarding SOPMs. Two aspects of SOPMs, including topological structures and biomimetic functions, are particularly introduced. Topological structure design involves comb-like self-oscillating polymer gels, “polyrotaxane-interlocked” self-oscillating polymer gels, hierarchical self-oscillating polymer gels, hyper cross-linked self-oscillating polymer gels, branched self-oscillating polymers, self-oscillating polymer brushes and self-oscillating block copolymers. Biomimetic function investigation includes self-oscillating polymer vesicles, artificial cells, autonomous intestine-like motion, photophobic and phototropic motion. Finally, the future development of SOPMs is prospected.

Contents
1 Introduction
2 Topological structures of self-oscillating polymer materials
2.1 Comb-like self-oscillating polymer gels
2.2 “Polyrotaxane-interlocked” self-oscillating polymer gels
2.3 Hierarchical self-oscillating polymer gels
2.4 Hyper cross-linked self-oscillating polymer gels
2.5 Branched self-oscillating polymers
2.6 Self-oscillating polymer brushes
2.7 Self-oscillating block copolymers
3 Biomimetic functions of self-oscillating polymer materials
3.1 Self-oscillating polymer vesicles
3.2 Artificial cells
3.3 Autonomous intestine-like motion
3.4 Photophobic and phototropic motion
4 Outlook