Themed collection Articles behind the 2026 journal covers

This highlight review article shows how modern imaging and far-from-equilibrium experiments deepen our understanding of the kinetics of crystal growth.

Polymorphs 1a, 1b, 1c reported by Kumar et al. were reinvestigated by validated solution and solid-state NMR, X-ray diffraction, and computations to show that the 3 polymorphs do not retain their distinct conformational identity in solution.

Solvent-controlled crystallization of a [2]naphthyl-extended pillar[6]arene yields diverse solid-state architectures, demonstrating the decisive role of solvent–host interactions in directing macrocyclic conformation and supramolecular assembly.

The structures of a series of fluorinated 2-methylpropamides demonstrate the relevance of strong H-bonds and weak intermolecular interactions involving organic fluorine. These were also characterized via QTAIM to understand their electronic features.

Combined X-ray diffraction and calculations of new deferiprone analogues reveal the crucial, active role of lattice water.

This study demonstrates that electroplating a nickel metal layer onto the surface of copper foil substrates followed by ultrasonic adsorption of an organic layer can be used to fabricate peelable ultra-thin copper foil (<5 μm).

Thermally stable micron scale Au flowers were grown at 70 °C with quaternary phosphonium salt as the additive, and SERS signals over 10⁶ of enhancement were observed with rhodamine 6G as SERS probes.

Crystallization process design and workflow for a polymorphic system.

This paper presents a correlative workflow for the identification of symmetry equivalent organic crystal facets using angle resolved polarised Raman spectroscopy.

Zn₃P₂ growth on graphene: triangular grain nucleation on atomic steps of graphene substrates and its growth window.

Structural and computational analyses of nitro-substituted azine derivatives reveal how molecular modeling, machine learning, and substitution influence antioxidant properties, guiding the design of next-generation biodiesel stabilizers.

Regeneration of paracetamol crystals following cleavage along the (010) plane was studied in ethanol, tetrahydrofuran, and acetone. All solvents facilitated crystal regeneration with rates influenced by crystal–solvent interactions and solubility.

A Cu^II Schiff-base chain and a rare high-nuclearity Mn^II/Cu^II cluster were synthesized, revealing a templating effect and demonstrating the value of preformed 3d-metal species in building novel heterometallic architectures.

In the world of non-covalent interactions, where does halogen bonding start and finish? We answer this in a study of co-crystals of p-xylene with halogen-substituted hexafluorobenzenes.

A novel polymorph of the furosemide–ethenzamide cocrystal was selectively synthesized via kinetic crystallization, revealing morphotropic packing and enhanced solubility.