Crystal growth, polymorphism and structure-property relationships in organic crystals

Abstract

Understanding the role of structure in determining the properties of materials is a crucial aspect of the design of new materials. The existence of polymorphic crystal structures provides a unique opportunity to study structure-property relationships, since the only variable among polymorphic forms is that of structure, and variation in properties must be due to differences in structure. Systematic characterization of the polymorphic forms and acquisition of the ability to grow crystals of a desired form are additional elements in the design strategy of new materials. The conditions and techniques required to obtain a particular polymorph, combined with knowledge of the crystal structures, can also provide information on the relative stability of the different structures. Studies of representative systems which illustrate the intimate connections between polymorphism, structure-property relations and crystal growth are presented.