Hybrid functional materials merging polyoxometalates and biomolecules: From synthesis to applications

Recent developments in synthetic strategies have enabled the formation of increasingly complex hybrid functional materials incorporating both organic and inorganic components that synergistically contribute towards enhanced overall properties. Polyoxometalates (POMs), a large family of metal-oxo nanoclusters, are particularly suitable inorganic platforms for the formation of such functional materials due to their well-defined yet versatile structures, as well as their tunable physical and chemical properties. Furthermore, biomolecules – such as amino acids, peptides, proteins, porphyrins, nucleic acids, sugars, vitamins, etc. – and their synthetic derivatives have attracted increasing interest as the organic components. These biomolecules can be combined with POMs in multiple ways, either through covalent attachment to the POM and/or through supramolecular interactions, to form POM-biomolecule hybrids. Such hybrids have demonstrated promising functionalities in a wide range of applications, particularly in catalysis, medicine, biotechnology, photonics, and materials science. This review provides a detailed overview of the current state of the art on the synthesis and post-functionalization of bioorganic-inorganic hybrid functional materials based on POMs and biomolecules along with their potential applications.