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  • Review Article
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Dynamic molecular crystals with switchable physical properties

Nature Chemistry volume 8, pages 644–656 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

The development of molecular materials whose physical properties can be controlled by external stimuli — such as light, electric field, temperature, and pressure — has recently attracted much attention owing to their potential applications in molecular devices. There are a number of ways to alter the physical properties of crystalline materials. These include the modulation of the spin and redox states of the crystal's components, or the incorporation within the crystalline lattice of tunable molecules that exhibit stimuli-induced changes in their molecular structure. A switching behaviour can also be induced by changing the molecular orientation of the crystal's components, even in cases where the overall molecular structure is not affected. Controlling intermolecular interactions within a molecular material is also an effective tool to modulate its physical properties. This Review discusses recent advances in the development of such stimuli-responsive, switchable crystalline compounds — referred to here as dynamic molecular crystals — and suggests how different approaches can serve to prepare functional materials.

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Figure 1: Dynamic molecular crystals wherein physical properties are switched by external stimuli such as light, electric field, temperature and pressure.
Figure 2: Examples of systems in which the physical properties of molecular crystalline materials are altered by manipulating spin, electron transfer, proton transfer, molecular structure and orientation.
Figure 3: Control of physical properties through the induction of spin transition.
Figure 4: Control of physical properties through the induction of charge transfer.
Figure 5: Control of physical properties through the induction of charge-transfer-coupled spin transition.
Figure 6: Control of physical properties through the induction of proton transfer.
Figure 7: Control of physical properties through the induction of molecular structural change.
Figure 8: Control of physical properties through the induction of molecular orientation change.

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Acknowledgements

Support from MEXT (Japan); KAKEN (No. 15H01018, 26104528, 25288029) is gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan

    Osamu Sato

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Sato, O. Dynamic molecular crystals with switchable physical properties. Nature Chem 8, 644–656 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.2547

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