This brief introduces the reader to the topic of superhalogens, a special class of atomic clusters that can potentially mimic the behavior of halogen atoms. It provides an introduction to the history of superhalogens, their conceptualization, and experimental confirmation and discusses in detail their properties and various applications. Some of the applications analyzed in the text include their potential use in the design of superacids, electrolytes for Li-ion batteries, and organic superconductors as well as their use in ionic liquids. The latest developments in the field are also presented. This brief is of great interest to graduates and researchers working at the interface of chemistry, physics, and materials science.

Ambrish Kumar Srivastava is Assistant Professor of Physics at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University in Gorakhpur, India. He received a Junior Research Fellowship from CSIR, India. Having obtained his academic degrees from the University of Lucknow, he got a National Postdoctoral Fellowship from SERB, DST, India. Dr. Srivastava has authored over 150 scientific publications including 1 authored book and 2 edited ebooks. He is Associate Editor of Frontiers in Physics. He has reviewed more than 40 research publications and edited 10 publications. He received the prestigious NASI-Young Scientist Platinum Jubilee Award 2022 conferred by the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI). He is a member of Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), American Chemical Society (ACS), Indian Chemical Society, and Materials Research Society of India. His current research interests include Computational Materials Science, Atomic Clusters and Superatoms, Biophysics.

Introduction.- Transition metal fluorides and oxides as superhalogens.- Superhalogens as strong oxidizers.- Superhalogens in the design of superacids.- Superhalogens in the design of electrolytic salts.- Miscellaneous applications of superhalogens.- Conclusion and future perspectives.