Themed collection Mechanically responsive crystalline materials

31 items
Editorial

Mechanically responsive crystalline materials

Guest editors Changquan Calvin Sun and C. Malla Reddy introduce the CrystEngComm themed issue on ‘Mechanically responsive crystalline materials’.

Graphical abstract: Mechanically responsive crystalline materials
From the themed collection: Mechanically responsive crystalline materials
Open Access Highlight

Density functional theory predictions of the mechanical properties of crystalline materials

The DFT-predicted mechanical properties of crystalline materials are crucial knowledge for their screening, design, and exploitation.

Graphical abstract: Density functional theory predictions of the mechanical properties of crystalline materials
From the themed collection: #RSCPoster Conference
Highlight

Dynamic effects in crystalline coordination polymers

Dynamic macroscopic behaviour of single crystals of coordination polymers when subjected to light, heat, and mechanical force.

Graphical abstract: Dynamic effects in crystalline coordination polymers
From the themed collection: 2021 Highlight article collection
Highlight

Determining the mechanisms of deformation in flexible crystals using micro-focus X-ray diffraction

A newly developed methodology allows for the determination of the mechanisms of deformation in flexible crystals with atomic precision. With broader applications, mapping experiments have wide reaching potential within the field of materials science.

Graphical abstract: Determining the mechanisms of deformation in flexible crystals using micro-focus X-ray diffraction
Highlight

Functional flexible molecular crystals: intrinsic and mechanoresponsive properties

Flexible molecular crystals have attracted much attention to unique optoelectronic applications and stimuli-responsive chemistry, resulting in various functional molecular crystals for controlling photons, phonons, electrons, and magnons.

Graphical abstract: Functional flexible molecular crystals: intrinsic and mechanoresponsive properties
From the themed collection: CrystEngComm up-and-coming articles
Highlight

Potential and challenges of engineering mechanically flexible molecular crystals

Crystal adaptronics has undergone tremendous developments that have been utilized to rationalize dynamics in crystals. This highlight discusses about the role of intermolecular interactions in rationalizing mechanical responses in crystals.

Graphical abstract: Potential and challenges of engineering mechanically flexible molecular crystals
Communication

Mechanophotonic aspects of a room temperature phosphorescent flexible organic microcrystal

A novel crystal of PTX-2CF3 exhibits room temperature phosphorescence and mechanical flexibility. This flexible crystal efficiently transduces optical emission both in the straight and bent geometries.

Graphical abstract: Mechanophotonic aspects of a room temperature phosphorescent flexible organic microcrystal
From the themed collection: Crystal Engineering Techniques
Communication

Two isomeric zeolite-like metal–organic frameworks with mechanically responsive luminescence emission and gas adsorption properties

The two isomeric zeolite-like metal–organic frameworks based on tetrahedral TPO3− ligands and tetrahedrally connected Cd2+ ions were prepared. One of the compounds shows mechanic-responsive luminescence after the crystals were ground for different time.

Graphical abstract: Two isomeric zeolite-like metal–organic frameworks with mechanically responsive luminescence emission and gas adsorption properties
From the themed collection: Coordination Networks
Communication

Understanding the elastic bending mechanism in a 9,10-anthraquinone crystal through thermal expansion study

Thermal expansion study has been used to understand the mechanism of elastic bending in 9,10-anthraquinone. Expansion along the bending axis due to bending is expected to resemble the thermal expansion along the same direction.

Graphical abstract: Understanding the elastic bending mechanism in a 9,10-anthraquinone crystal through thermal expansion study
From the themed collection: Crystal Engineering Techniques
Communication

Curving deformation-induced photoluminescence changes and anisotropy analysis in elastic organic crystals

Mechanical deformation-induced physical property changes of elastically flexible molecular crystals were successfully investigated by spatially resolved μ-photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy for the PL analysis at both the outer and inner sides.

Graphical abstract: Curving deformation-induced photoluminescence changes and anisotropy analysis in elastic organic crystals
From the themed collection: Supramolecular & Polymorphism
Communication

Intense red emissive organic crystals with elastic bending ability and optical waveguiding behaviour

Orange (Cry-1O) and red (Cry-1R) emissive crystals were obtained based on a green emissive molecule 1. The light transducing capability of Cry-1R in both the straight and bent states can be applied as an active optical waveguiding medium.

Graphical abstract: Intense red emissive organic crystals with elastic bending ability and optical waveguiding behaviour
From the themed collection: Supramolecular & Polymorphism
Paper

Effect of halogen substitution on energies and dynamics of reversible photomechanical crystals based on 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid

A combined experimental/computational analysis of photomechanical anthracene derivatives reveals their kinetic behavior is not simply related to the monomer-photodimer energetics.

Graphical abstract: Effect of halogen substitution on energies and dynamics of reversible photomechanical crystals based on 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid
From the themed collection: Mechanically responsive crystalline materials
Open Access Paper

Tuning the mechanical flexibility of organic molecular crystals by polymorphism for flexible optical waveguides

The ability to selectively tune the optical and the mechanical properties of organic molecular crystals offers a promising approach towards developing flexible optical devices.

Graphical abstract: Tuning the mechanical flexibility of organic molecular crystals by polymorphism for flexible optical waveguides
Paper

Elastic anisotropy of mechanically responsive molecular solids

Unique mechanical properties in molecular solids arise from a specific combination of structure and interaction anisotropy. Powder Brillouin light scattering offers new insight into the latter contribution to test current models for mechanical design.

Graphical abstract: Elastic anisotropy of mechanically responsive molecular solids
From the themed collection: Supramolecular & Polymorphism
Open Access Paper

A high contrast mechanochromic luminescent diacetylene-linked bis-benzothiadiazole derivative

A rod-shaped self-assembling diacetylene-linked bis-benzothiadiazole derivative presents a high contrast luminescence phase transformation upon shearing which is reversed upon heating.

Graphical abstract: A high contrast mechanochromic luminescent diacetylene-linked bis-benzothiadiazole derivative
From the themed collection: Supramolecular & Polymorphism
Paper

Further investigations of the crystal-to-crystal phase transition of a [2]pseudorotaxane composed of ferrocene-terminated dialkylammonium and dibenzo[24]crown-8-ether

A pseudorotaxane with different or mixed counter anions undergoes thermal phase transition, which is related to the interaction between the counter anion and macrocyclic component.

Graphical abstract: Further investigations of the crystal-to-crystal phase transition of a [2]pseudorotaxane composed of ferrocene-terminated dialkylammonium and dibenzo[24]crown-8-ether
From the themed collection: Supramolecular & Polymorphism
Paper

Effect of dehydration pathway on the surface properties of molecular crystals

Atomic force microscopy was used to determine roughness, elastic modulus and work function after thermally-induced and solvent-induced dehydration. These properties correlated with electric charging to provide insight into behaviour of bulk powders.

Graphical abstract: Effect of dehydration pathway on the surface properties of molecular crystals
From the themed collection: Crystal Engineering Techniques
Paper

Supramolecular complex strategy for pure organic multi-color luminescent materials and stimuli-responsive luminescence switching

Pure organic multi-color luminescent materials were finely tuned from blue through green to red using a supramolecular complex strategy, exhibiting force- and solvent-sensitive luminescence switching in the stimuli-responsive field.

Graphical abstract: Supramolecular complex strategy for pure organic multi-color luminescent materials and stimuli-responsive luminescence switching
From the themed collection: Supramolecular & Polymorphism
Open Access Paper

Multi-color mechanochromic luminescence of three polymorphic crystals of a donor–acceptor-type benzothiadiazole derivative

The three polymorphic crystals of a donor–acceptor dye exhibited different luminescence colors, which changed in response to mechanical grinding.

Graphical abstract: Multi-color mechanochromic luminescence of three polymorphic crystals of a donor–acceptor-type benzothiadiazole derivative
From the themed collection: Supramolecular & Polymorphism
Paper

Elastic deformability and luminescence of crystals of polyhalogenated platinum(II)–bipyridine complexes

A series of polyhalogenated platinum(II)–bipyridine complexes showed solvent-of-crystallisation-dependent elastic flexibility and luminescence.

Graphical abstract: Elastic deformability and luminescence of crystals of polyhalogenated platinum(ii)–bipyridine complexes
From the themed collection: Supramolecular & Polymorphism
Paper

The design of dihalogenated TPE monoboronate complexes as mechanofluorochromic crystals

Mechanofluorochromic crystals based on tetraphenylethylene and boronates reversibly change their emission upon grinding, setting the path to develop bistable switches in the future.

Graphical abstract: The design of dihalogenated TPE monoboronate complexes as mechanofluorochromic crystals
From the themed collection: Supramolecular & Polymorphism
Paper

Chlorinated diketopyrrolopyrrole dye exhibits a three-step polymorphic transition with thermosalient effects

A diketopyrrolopyrrole dye was found to exhibit a three-step polymorphic transition by heating with thermosalient effects.

Graphical abstract: Chlorinated diketopyrrolopyrrole dye exhibits a three-step polymorphic transition with thermosalient effects
From the themed collection: Supramolecular & Polymorphism
Paper

Photoinduced topographical surface changes and photoresponse of the crystals of 7-methoxycoumarin

Photoinduced topographical changes, bending, and photosalient effect due to the dimerization reaction were observed on a single crystal of 7-methoxycoumarin, upon deep UV (254 nm) light irradiation.

Graphical abstract: Photoinduced topographical surface changes and photoresponse of the crystals of 7-methoxycoumarin
From the themed collection: Crystal Engineering Techniques
Paper

Mechano-induced photoluminescence colour change in an alkyltolane-terminated cyanostilbene

A novel alkyltolane-terminated cyanostilbene is synthesized. The photoluminescence colour changed depending on the precipitation method, with either a red shift or blue shift in the photoluminescence spectra observed upon mechanical grinding.

Graphical abstract: Mechano-induced photoluminescence colour change in an alkyltolane-terminated cyanostilbene
From the themed collection: Supramolecular & Polymorphism
Paper

Light-fueled rapid macroscopic motion of a green fluorescent organic crystal

We report here a new green fluorescent organic crystal of an amide functionalized acrylonitrile derivative (E-ArF2) that displays various types of macroscopic response when illuminated with UV light (390 nm).

Graphical abstract: Light-fueled rapid macroscopic motion of a green fluorescent organic crystal
From the themed collection: Crystal Engineering Techniques
Paper

A photoluminescent organosuperelastic crystal of 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin

A unique mechanical property of superelasticity is observed not only in so-called shape-memory alloys but also in molecular crystals.

Graphical abstract: A photoluminescent organosuperelastic crystal of 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin
From the themed collection: Supramolecular & Polymorphism
Paper

Fluorine as a robust balancer for tuning the reactivity of topo-photoreactions of chalcones and the photomechanical effects of molecular crystals

The higher the number of fluorine atoms, the higher the topological photo-induced [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactivity of chalcones.

Graphical abstract: Fluorine as a robust balancer for tuning the reactivity of topo-photoreactions of chalcones and the photomechanical effects of molecular crystals
From the themed collection: Crystal Engineering Techniques
Paper

Actuation performance of a photo-bending crystal modeled by machine learning-based regression

The bending deflection and blocking force of photo-bending crystals of different sizes were experimentally measured at various light intensities, and then modeled by the machine learning-based regression.

Graphical abstract: Actuation performance of a photo-bending crystal modeled by machine learning-based regression
From the themed collection: Data Driven Crystal Engineering
Paper

Epimers with distinct mechanical behaviours

Two epimeric series of esters exhibit distinct mechanical behaviour: brittle crystals for one series and ductile crystals for the other series.

Graphical abstract: Epimers with distinct mechanical behaviours
From the themed collection: Crystal Engineering Techniques
Open Access Paper

Probing anisotropic mechanical behaviour in carbamazepine form III

Nanoindentation measurements in single crystals of carbamazepine form III show that the (020) face is stiffer and harder than the (002) and (101) faces. AFM imaging and molecular simulations reveal that the (020) plane is the most likely slip plane.

Graphical abstract: Probing anisotropic mechanical behaviour in carbamazepine form III
From the themed collection: Crystal Engineering Techniques
Paper

Anisotropic bending and twisting behaviour of a twin crystal composed of a diarylethene

The unusual photomechanical behaviour of a “twin crystal” consisting of a diarylethene derivative was investigated.

Graphical abstract: Anisotropic bending and twisting behaviour of a twin crystal composed of a diarylethene
From the themed collection: Crystal Growth
31 items

About this collection

This themed issue, guest edited by Advisory Board member, Changquan Calvin Sun, and Associate Editor, C Malla Reddy, includes articles on various types of mechanically responsive crystalline materials. While the design principles are still evolving, a great progress has been made in recent years in understanding the structure-mechanical property correlation in molecular crystals. Majority of the articles in this issue cover crystals that respond to either mechanical stress, light and/or heat. Characterization tools, such as nanoindentation, spatially resolved X-ray diffraction, Brillouin light scattering, and computational techniques, have gained prominence in studying the mechanical properties of crystalline materials. Articles on optical properties of mechanically responsive crystals not only reveal the strong structure-property correlation but also present the new opportunities for designing functional materials through crystal engineering

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