Design of molecular materials combining magnetic, electrical and optical properties

The possibilities offered by hybrid functional materials formed by two mole cular networks in the context of crystal engineering are illustrated with t wo different examples: (i) hybrid magnets constructed from combination of a n extended ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic inorganic network, with a molecul ar paramagnetic metal complex acting as template. (ii) Hybrid organic-inorg anic compounds combining an organic pi -electron donor network that furnish es the pathway for electronic conductivity, with inorganic metal complexes that act as structural and/or magnetic components. These examples illustrat e how this hybrid approach allows the design of molecular materials combini ng non-conventional magnetic, electrical and optical properties.