Abstract: Abrasion and scratch protective coatings magnetic coatings, electrically and thermally conducting coatings, and UV absorbing coatings are provided by electrostatic self-assembly (ESA) of one layer of an organic or polymer molecule and one layer of inorganic clusters in a layer by layer fashion at room temperature. A combination of inorganic clusters having a particle size of preferably less than 30 nm and flexible organic molecules allows fabrication of films tens to hundreds of micrometers thick, with large pores and excellent stress relaxation.