Organic-Inorganic Hybrids: From Magnetic Perovskite Metal(II) Halides to Multifunctional Metal(II) phosphonates

The synthesis, crystal structure and solid state properties of three different groups of magnetic organic-inorganic hybrid compounds are described and discussed. The reported examples are crystalline solids built from metal ions or metal clusters bonded to the organic moieties to form a single phase. The three families are a) perovskite metal halides, b) electrical conductive radical-cation salts and c) transition metal phosphonates and they differ by the type of chemical bonding between the organic and inorganic subnetworks. Organic-inorganic hybrid materials gained interest due to their potential applications in several fields and for their unusual collective electronic properties, such as magnetism, optical and electrical conductivity properties. Today they are experiencing a revival due to the discovery in some hybrids of coexistence of two physical properties such as ferroelectricity and magnetic order or ferromagnetism and metal-like electrical conductivity (dual-functional materials). The aim of this review is a survey of the crystal structure and properties of magnetic organic-inorganic hybrid compounds selected on the basis of their interesting electrical properties and for the potential applications.