Cluster-nuclei coassembled ultrathin materials: Recent progress and applications

The cluster-nuclei co-assembly strategy, first reported by Professor Xun Wang in 2019, refers to a universal synthesis method in which polyoxometalate (POM) clusters and inorganic nuclei are co-assembled into ultrathin, specifically subnanometer (sub-1 nm), materials. Employing this approach, a wide range of ultrathin POM-based structures, such as nanowires, nanobelts, nanosheets, and nanotubes, have been fabricated. These materials exhibit unique properties, demonstrating great promise for applications in catalysis, energy storage, photothermal conversion, and tumor treatment. This review covers the progress in research on cluster-nuclei co-assembled ultrathin materials, encompassing their synthesis methods, well-defined structures, and promising application prospects. It aims to provide a roadmap for the future design of sub-1 nm POM-nuclei coassembly systems and pave the way for their further development.