From giant molecular clusters and precursors to solid-state structures

Novel nanosized ring-shaped polyoxometalate and ligand-protected metal chalcogenide clusters provide versatile models for the study of molecular growth processes, especially at the interface to solid-state chemistry. Besides their unusual electronic properties, their use as synthons or precursors for solid-state structures with tailored properties, such as mesoporosity, raises special interest for materials science (polyoxometalate case).