Hybrid nanocomposite materials for energy storage and conversion applications

Functional Hybrid materials based on conducting polymers and inorganic photo-electroactive species provide a wealth of opportunities for the development of novel materials with improved properties. Polyoxometalates are one type of well-known inorganic species with most interesting photo-electrochemical activity. They are perfect models for nanometer-sized oxide quantum-dots both concerning structure, topology and electrochemical and photochemical properties. Yet, they have not been applied as materials because of their molecular nature (i.e., soluble in most solvents or electrolytes). In our group we have recently developed a research line dealing with the integration of these fascinating clusters in conducting polymer matrices to yield functional hybrid materials. Our past emphasis was on electroactivity for energy-storage applications but these materials can also be used, as it is shown here, for photoelectrochemical applications. (C) 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.