CrystEngComm Blog

Nanoparticle-based crystal growth via multistep self-assembly
Qiang Zhou, Boyang Wang, Peijie Wang, Christoph Dellago, Yanting Wang and Yan Fang

CrystEngComm, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3CE40497H, Paper

Free to access until 25th June

Remineralization of dentin collagen by meta-stabilized amorphous calcium phosphate
Jianming Wang, Yi Chen, Li Li, Jian Sun, Xinhua Gu, Xurong Xu, Haihua Pan and Ruikang Tang

CrystEngComm, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3CE40449H, Paper

Free to access until 25th June

A series of tetranuclear-cluster-containing complexes based on pendent-arm macrocyclic ligand and different carboxylates: syntheses, structures, photoluminescence, and magnetic properties

Huan-Huan Chen, Jin Yang, Ying-Ying Liu and Jian-Fang Ma

CrystEngComm, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3CE40239H, Paper

Free to access until 25th June

Linker extensions in metal–organic frameworks: a way to isoreticular networks or new topologies?
Daniela Frahm, Frank Hoffmann and Michael Fröba

CrystEngComm, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3CE40594J, Paper

Free to access until 25th June

Surface-migration driving uniform amorphous shell on crystalline nanowire: the case of SiC/SiO_x core–shell nanowires
Z. L. Cai, G. Wang, B. Song, R. Wu, J. Li and J. K. Jian

CrystEngComm, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3CE40314A, Paper

Free to access until 25th June

Enhanced photochromism of chromen-based colorants near silver nanorods in sol–gel matrix
Mei-Lin Ho, Bo-Jen Chi, Tzu-Yi Hung, Hua-Yang Liao, Jing-Chang Wang, Ting-Yi Wang and Jing-Jong Shyue

CrystEngComm, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3CE40293B, Paper

Free to access until 17th June

Crystal structures and binding studies of atovaquone and its derivatives with cytochrome bc₁: a molecular basis for drug design
Susanta K. Nayak, Srijita Basu Mallik, Shankar Prasad Kanaujia, Kanagaraj Sekar, K. R. Ranganathan, V. Ananthalakshmi, G. Jeyaraman, S. S. Saralaya, K. Sundararaja Rao, K. Shridhara, K. Nagarajan and Tayur N. Guru Row

CrystEngComm, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3CE40336J, Paper

Free to access until 17th June

CrystEngComm, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3CE40460A, Paper

Free to access until 17th June

Positive {hk.l} and negative {hk.¯l} forms of calcite (CaCO₃) crystal. New open questions from the evaluation of their surface energies
D. Aquilano, R. Benages-Vilau, M. Bruno, M. Rubbo and F. R. Massaro

CrystEngComm, 2013,15, 4465-4472
DOI: 10.1039/C3CE40203G, Paper

Free to access until 17th June

 Toward chiral conductors: combining halogen bonding ability and chirality within a single tetrathiafulvalene molecule
Julien Lieffrig, Ronan Le Pennec, Olivier Jeannin, Pascale Auban-Senzier and Marc Fourmigué

CrystEngComm, 2013,15, 4408-4412
DOI: 10.1039/C3CE40393A, Communication

Free to access until 17th June

Polyoxometalates (POMs) have been widely used as the inorganic component in metal-organic frameworks to construct structures with complex topologies for a variety of functions. These structures tend to be constructed from metal ions and N-containing ligands. Flexible N-donor ligands, such as the bis(triazole) ligands with different spacers of –(CH₂)_n– (where n = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), offers even more advantages over their rigid counterparts as the flexibility enables them to form more complex structures.

In this paper, the authors synthesised four compounds based on the PW₁₂O₄₀^3-–Ag^I–bis(triazole) system to investigate how the different spacer lengths in the bis(triazole) ligands, and the reaction conditions such as pH and crystallisation time, has on the final topology of the structure. They also studied the electrochemical and photocatalytic properties of these structures, and obtained some very promising results.

The following are some of the fascinating structures that they made.

Find out more about them, and their synthetic methods, from the paper now:

A series of 3D PW₁₂O₄₀^3--based AgI–bis(triazole) complexes containing different multinuclear loops: syntheses, structures and properties
Xiuli Wang, Dan Zhao, Aixiang Tian and Jun Ying
CrystEngComm, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3CE40375K, Paper

Wendy is the Development Editor of CrystEngComm. She started working for the RSC in March 2013, after completing her PhD at the University of Cambridge.

Lithium ion batteries are widely used as portable sources of electric energy, from powering gadgets to cars. As such, there has been great interest in improving their performance, and one of the most promising routes is to use LiMPO₄ (where M is either Mn or Fe) hierarchical structures in the battery electrodes. Nevertheless, a synthetic method that is both low cost and do not require harsh chemicals is still necessary for these structures to be used more widely in lithium ion batteries.

In this paper, the authors presented a method of synthesising LiMPO₄microspheres via a solvothermal process in a solution of glycerol, citric acid and water. These microspheres had a 3D hierarchical structure, in which the larger spheres are either composed of nanoparticles(LiFePO₄) or nanorods (LiMnPO₄). They investigated the effects of changing the concentrations of the starting materials have on the morphology of the overall structure, and the growth mechanisms of the crystals. They also used the LiMPO4 microstructures as the cathode in a lithium ion battery set-up to measure their electrochemical properties.

The authors found that the microspheres had high reversible specific capacity and cycling performance, making them ideal candidates for use in batteries. This work opens up a cheap and safe route to manufacturing high performing lithium-ion batteries.

Read their article now to find out more:

Synthesis of 3D-hiearchical LiMPO₄ (M = Fe, Mn) microstructures as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries
Yuanxiang Gu, Weiming Liu, Lei Wang, Guicun Li and Yu Yang
CrystEngComm, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3CE00072A, Paper

Supramolecular chemistry studies noncovalent bonding such as intermolecular interactions. One of these, the carbon-halogen bond, has generated much interest due to its applications in crystal engineering and drug design. Many statistical studies of chemical structures found in databases such as the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) have been made in order to gain insight into molecules incorporating this bond.

In this paper, the authors present a new and more accurate method to analyse CSD data for molecules incorporating halogen atoms. This method has a more accurate angular correction, takes into account competitive supramolecular interactions of the halogen atom (e.g. hydrogen bonds), and also allows significant bond directionalities to be found.

Find out more from their paper:

Halogen bonding versus hydrogen bonding: what does the Cambridge Database reveal?
Tiddo J. Mooibroek and Patrick Gamez
CrystEngComm, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3CE40285A, Paper

YVO₄ microcrystals have generated much interest due to their optical, thermal and mechanical properties, which make them useful in devices such as panel displays and lasers. However, most of the synthetic methods currently used are complex, and the crystals made are not very uniform or disperse.

In this paper, the authors have synthesised monodisperse YVO₄:EU³⁺ submicrocrystals via a simple ethylene glycol assisted hydrothermal method. By fine-tuning the pH of the reaction solution, they were able to obtain various crystal morphologies, such as flower-like, spherical, and octahedral shapes. An investigation into the growth mechanism suggested that the growth happens via a three-step nucleation, oriented aggregation and ripening process.

The luminescent properties of the octahedral and spherical crystals were also carried out. The two forms had similar excitation and emission spectra, with a peak corresponding to red light, although the octahedral crystals had a much stronger intensity than spherical crystals.  The simple synthetic method, together with the emission characteristics of these monodisperse crystals make them good candidates for applications in optoelectronic devices.

Find out more from their article:

Monodisperse YVO₄:Eu³⁺ submicrocrystals: controlled synthesis and luminescence properties
Baiqi Shao, Qi Zhao, Ning Guo, Yongchao Jia, Wenzhen Lv, Mengmeng Jiao, Wei Lü and Hongpeng You
CrystEngComm, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3CE00074E, Paper