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Thermally Twistable, Photobendable, Elastically Deformable, and Self‐Healable Soft Crystals
Author(s) -
Gupta Poonam,
Karothu Durga Prasad,
Ahmed Ejaz,
Naumov Panče,
Nath Naba K.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201802785
Subject(s) - materials science , crystal (programming language) , intermolecular force , isotropy , actuator , composite material , phase transition , bending , nucleation , crystallography , molecule , condensed matter physics , optics , chemistry , thermodynamics , physics , computer science , organic chemistry , programming language , artificial intelligence
The first example of a smart crystalline material, the 2:1 cocrystal of probenecid and 4,4′‐azopyridine, which responds reversibly to multiple external stimuli (heat, UV light, and mechanical pressure) by twisting, bending, and elastic deformation without fracture is reported. This material is also able to self‐heal on heating and cooling, thereby overcoming the main setbacks of molecular crystals for future applications as crystal actuators. The photo‐ and thermomechanical effects and self‐healing capabilities of the material are rooted in reversible trans – cis isomerization of the azopyridine unit and crystal‐to‐crystal phase transition. Fairly isotropic intermolecular interactions and interlocked crisscrossed molecular packing secure high elasticity of the crystals.