Design of molecular materials combining magnetic, electrical and optical properties †

Abstract

The possibilities offered by hybrid functional materials formed by two molecular networks in the context of crystal engineering are illustrated with two different examples: (i) hybrid magnets constructed from combination of an extended ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic inorganic network, with a molecular paramagnetic metal complex acting as template. (ii) Hybrid organic–inorganic compounds combining an organic π-electron donor network that furnishes the pathway for electronic conductivity, with inorganic metal complexes that act as structural and/or magnetic components. These examples illustrate how this hybrid approach allows the design of molecular materials combining non-conventional magnetic, electrical and optical properties.