Challenges in organometallic research – Great opportunity for solar cells and OLEDs

Organometallic molecules have become a field of intense activities in the optoelectronic research. They hold great promise as versatile functional materials for use in energy interconversions. This special issue presents a critical perspective of the field, with emphasis on fundamental concepts and current applications. Practical applications are enumerated and illustrated by an example. These include systems where light is transformed into electricity and vice versa. New synthetic methods need to be developed to produce technologically useful materials with specific functional roles.

Graphical abstractOrganometallic chemistry can and will make an important contribution to the global energy problem. This article presents a critical perspective of the field of organometallic compounds in molecular devices where light is transformed into electricity (in photovoltaic solar cells) whereas electrical energy is converted into light energy (in organic light-emitting diodes). New synthetic methods need to be developed to produce technologically useful materials with specific functional roles.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide