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Crystallization of Small Organic Molecules in a Polymer Matrix: Multistep Mechanism Enables Structural Control
Author(s) -
Bronshtein Ilya,
Weissman Haim,
KaplanAshiri Ifat,
Rybtchinski Boris
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201902936
Subject(s) - crystallization , diimide , materials science , polymer , perylene , amorphous solid , polystyrene , chemical engineering , molecule , crystallization of polymers , chemical physics , crystallography , organic chemistry , chemistry , composite material , engineering
The widely employed crystallization of organic molecules in solution is not well understood and is difficult to control. Employing polymers as crystallization media may allow enhanced control via temperature‐induced regulation of polymer dynamics. Crystallization of a small organic molecule (perylene diimide) is investigated in polymer matrices (polystyrene) that enable the mechanistic study and control over order evolution. The crystallization is induced by heating above the glass transition temperature of the polymer, and quenched by cooling, leading to stabilization of crystallization intermediates. The mechanistic studies include direct imaging by electron microscopy, revealing a complex self‐assembly process starting from amorphous aggregates that densify and transform into an unstable crystalline phase of N , N ′‐bis(2,6‐dimethylphenyl)perylene‐3,4,9,10‐tetracarboxylic diimide (DMP‐PDI), followed by a conversion into a more stable crystalline form. Stabilization of crystallization intermediates at room temperature provides diverse structures based on a single molecular component. These findings have implications for the rational design of organic crystalline materials.