Hybrid Framework Materials: Next‐Generation Engineering Materials

Hybrid organic–inorganic materials represent a fascinating class of compounds that combine the unique properties of both organic compounds and inorganic materials. This review provides an overview of two classes of hybrid materials: metal–organic frameworks and hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites, with their structures, applications, and responses to external stimuli discussed. These hybrids leverage the versatility of organic molecules, for example, flexibility and functionality, alongside the robustness and stability of inorganic components through coordination between components. By tailoring both composition and structure, researchers have been able to create multifunctional systems that exhibit enhanced performance, such as improved mechanical strength, and thermal stability, leading to innovative applications across various fields, including optoelectronics, gas storage/separation, and catalysis. The emerging field of hybrid glasses is also discussed as it represents a novel frontier in the design of hybrid materials, combining the nature of glasses with the functional properties of hybrid materials. With several key areas of active research discussed, the future of hybrid framework materials and the obstacles that must be overcome, for example, synthesis at scale and stability at ambient conditions, to see their widespread applications in the modern world, is speculated.