Metal complexes for molecular electronics and photonics

Within the fields of coordination und organometallic chemistry there has recently been much interest in the design, synthesis and study of novel complexes having potential for applications in the nascent technologies of molecular electronics and photonics. Here we provide an overview of the current status of research involving organotransition metal complexes in the following important areas: liquid crystalline materials, nonlinear optical materials, molecular wires and switches, chromophore-quencher complexes, dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells and organic light-emitting diodes. Coverage is selective, generally focusing on highlights and the most recent developments, with the broad aim of conveying the essence and excitement of a group of related research topics at the forefront of modern inorganic chemistry.