Polyoxometalates (POMs) – molecular metal–oxide clusters composed of charged metal–oxygen polyhedra formed via solution self‐assembly processes – exhibit diverse and highly useful structure–property–reactivity relationships in the various states of matter. Found in both mineral phases and biological systems, POM motifs have played supporting roles in research areas recognized by Nobel Prizes, including structural biology and porous framework chemistry. Although their translation into real‐world technologies still requires higher levels of technological readiness, POMs are currently being explored across a wide range of interdisciplinary fields. This work builds on the collective efforts of the global POM research community, which continues to generate both fundamental insights and innovative applications. Here, we present a comprehensive survey of POM research and outline future horizons in synthesis and characterization, with particular emphasis on recent breakthroughs and emerging directions. Four thematic domains – Health, Electronics, Energy, and the Environment – are used as an organizing framework to identify key shared principles and cross‐disciplinary opportunities in POM research. The goal of this work is to consolidate international efforts, foster cross‐disciplinary collaboration, and accelerate the development of application‐ready POM materials.
Monakhov et al. (2026) studied this question.