Toward the Design and Construction of Supramolecular Functional Molecular Materials Based on Metal-Metal Interactions

Supramolecular functional materials represent an emerging class of materials that have been governed by the supramolecular chemistry of self-assembled molecules. Such high-order molecular hierarchies have been stabilized by various kinds of noncovalent intermolecular forces including hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, donor-acceptor, π-π stacking interactions, and dispersion forces. Recently, metal-metal interactions have also emerged as an unconventional type of noncovalent interaction that is unique in the metal complex system for the construction of self-assembled metal-based materials. These metal-metal interactions have further imparted the self-assembled materials with rich spectroscopic functionalities. However, the systematic control of these hierarchical architectures through metal-metal interactions remains challenging. In this Perspective, we aim to stimulate research direction in the field with the utilization of such intriguing and unique directional noncovalent metal-metal interactions as one of the driving forces, highlighting the roles and significance of metal-metal interactions and ultimately facilitating a controlled and rational design and synthesis of metallosupramolecular functional materials with rich spectroscopic properties and huge potential for various applications.