History of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Materials: Prehistory, Art, Science, and Advanced Applications

The rise of organic-inorganic hybrid materials in both academia and industry results from a convergence of diverse expertise and communities and is driven by the curiosity of open-minded scientists. In this review article, a historical perception on the evolution of hybrid material science is described. The major periods associated with the genesis of hybrid materials are discussed: prebiotic hybrid chemistry, hybrid materials made through know-how, the rise of silicates and silicon chemistry, modern hybrids: a mushrooming multidisciplinary field of research, and current applications of hybrid materials fully integrated in the society. Finally, the review presents an outlook that summarizes some future prospects related to hybrid materials.