Chemistry at high pressure: tuning functional materials properties

High pressure is a fascinating tool to promote and enhance the properties of materials as well as to induce new and exotic phenomena. This is especially of interest for functional materials, which are very sensitive to external pressure (P) and whose features can be tuned and controlled in a rigorous fashion. Through specific examples of the role of applied P on two families of functional compounds based on the perovskite lattice, manganites, and organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites, it is shown that the particular properties of interest can be manipulated by means of pressure. Examples highlight the effects at both the microscopic and macroscopic level, and show how the understanding of P-induced phenomena is essential for the development of materials chemistry design.