New Talent 2022
Christian Doonan and Kwangyeol Lee introduce the CrystEngComm themed issue “New Talent 2022”.
Metal oxide charge transporting layers for stable high-performance perovskite solar cells
This review summarizes the recent progress in metal oxide charge transporting layers to achieve stable high-performance perovskite solar cells.
Fast and reversible bidirectional photomechanical response displayed by a flexible polycrystalline aggregate of a hydrazone
In this study, a typical laboratory experiment was carried out to isolate the flat strips of a flexible polycrystalline aggregate of a hydrazone derivative.
Communication
Magnetic order in a metal thiocyanate perovskite-analogue
Neutron diffraction and magnetic property measurements reveal that Cr[Bi(SCN)6], a metal thiocyanate perovskite-analogue with a face-centred cubic magnetic lattice, orders magnetically at 4.0(2) K with a shortest through-bond path of 15.1 Å.
Communication
Hydrogen and halogen bond synergy in the self-assembly of 3,5-dihalo-tyrosines: structural and theoretical insights
Halogenation is becoming a key supramolecular tool in peptides. Halogenated tyrosines include in the same moiety functionalities that could give rise to a complete set of noncovalent forces such as halogen bonds, hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions.
A high Z′ structure of an organic salt with unusually high phase stability, nanoindentation, and mechano and vapo-fluorochromism
Structure (1) with very unique crystal packing and multi-stimuli responsive behaviour is reported. The absence of polymorphism in 1 is supported by experimental studies. Hirshfeld and nanoindentation studies are also reported.
Paper
Materials discovery and design limits in MDABCO perovskites
Three new structures in the MDABCO perovskite family of ferroelectrics define new design rules for ferroelectric phase discovery.
An approach for the pore-centred description of adsorption in hierarchical porous materials
Analysis of metal–organic frameworks featuring hierarchical pore systems is presented and leveraged to understand adsorption in unique pore structures.
Conformational preferences in a series of α-hydroxy ketone derivatives: interplay of conformational energies and lattice cohesive energies
A detailed structural analysis of a series of α-hydroxy ketone derivatives in terms of lattice energies and conformational energies reveals the competing factors of inter- and intramolecular interactions that direct conformational preferences.
Paper
Co-crystallization of organic chromophore roseolumiflavin and effect on its optical characteristics
Three roseolumiflavin co-crystals are designed to elucidate the accessibility of flavins for the targeted tuning of luminescence in the solid state.
Evaluating solvothermal and mechanochemical routes towards the metal–organic framework Mg2(m-dobdc)
Mechanochemical and solvothermal routes to the metal–organic framework Mg2(m-dobdc) bearing coordinatively unsaturated Mg(II) sites are presented. The mechanochemical synthesis produces porous material exhibiting higher carbon dioxide uptake.
Polydimethylsiloxane functionalized separator for a stable and fast lithium metal anode
Lithium dendrite growth and sluggish Li+ desolvation can be alleviated using a polydimethylsiloxane functionalized separator, resulting in a fast and stable lithium metal anode.
Electronic modulation of cobalt phosphide by lanthanum doping for efficient overall water splitting in alkaline media
The La-doping regulates the electronic structure of CoP, promoting its HER and OER activities. A La–CoP-based water electrolyzer requires a cell voltage of 1.608 V at 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline media, which outperforms a noble metal-based electrolyzer.
Three-dimensional Cd(II) porphyrin metal–organic frameworks for the colorimetric sensing of Electron donors
Three MOFs with metalloporphyrin lined, large square 1D channels were used as colorimetric sensors for electron donors. Exposure to amine vapours caused a redshift of the Soret absorption bands of the metalloporphyrin.
Paper
App-based quantification of crystal phases and amorphous content in ZIF biocomposites
We developed and integrated into a web application (ZIF Phase Analysis) a calibration procedure for the rapid and quantitative analysis of crystalline and amorphous ZIF phases from diffraction patterns in biomacromolecule@ZIF biocomposites.
About this collection
This themed issue celebrates the significant contributions from early career researchers to the field of crystal engineering. This issue is guest edited by CrystEngComm Associate Editors Professor Christian Doonan (University of Adelaide, Australia) and Professor Kwangyeol Lee (Korea University, Korea).