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Shape-memory effects in molecular crystals

Author

Listed:
  • Ejaz Ahmed

    (New York University Abu Dhabi)

  • Durga Prasad Karothu

    (New York University Abu Dhabi)

  • Mark Warren

    (Diamond Light Source)

  • Panče Naumov

    (New York University Abu Dhabi
    Harvard University)

Abstract

Molecular crystals can be bent elastically by expansion or plastically by delamination into slabs that glide along slip planes. Here we report that upon bending, terephthalic acid crystals can undergo a mechanically induced phase transition without delamination and their overall crystal integrity is retained. Such plastically bent crystals act as bimorphs and their phase uniformity can be recovered thermally by taking the crystal over the phase transition temperature. This recovers the original straight shape and the crystal can be bent by a reverse thermal treatment, resulting in shape memory effects akin of those observed with some metal alloys and polymers. We anticipate that similar memory and restorative effects are common for other molecular crystals having metastable polymorphs. The results demonstrate the advantage of using intermolecular interactions to accomplish mechanically adaptive properties with organic solids that bridge the gap between mesophasic and inorganic materials in the materials property space.

Suggested Citation

  • Ejaz Ahmed & Durga Prasad Karothu & Mark Warren & Panče Naumov, 2019. "Shape-memory effects in molecular crystals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-11612-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11612-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Zihao Zhao & Yusong Cai & Qiang Zhang & Anze Li & Tianwen Zhu & Xiaohong Chen & Wang Zhang Yuan, 2024. "Photochromic luminescence of organic crystals arising from subtle molecular rearrangement," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Lian-Cai An & Xiang Li & Zhi-Gang Li & Qite Li & Patrick J. Beldon & Fei-Fei Gao & Zi-Ying Li & Shengli Zhu & Lu Di & Sanchuan Zhao & Jian Zhu & Davide Comboni & Ilya Kupenko & Wei Li & U. Ramamurty &, 2022. "Plastic bending in a semiconducting coordination polymer crystal enabled by delamination," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Mehdi Rohullah & Vuppu Vinay Pradeep & Shruti Singh & Rajadurai Chandrasekar, 2024. "Mechanically controlled multifaceted dynamic transformations in twisted organic crystal waveguides," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Durga Prasad Karothu & Rodrigo Ferreira & Ghada Dushaq & Ejaz Ahmed & Luca Catalano & Jad Mahmoud Halabi & Zainab Alhaddad & Ibrahim Tahir & Liang Li & Sharmarke Mohamed & Mahmoud Rasras & Panče Naumo, 2022. "Exceptionally high work density of a ferroelectric dynamic organic crystal around room temperature," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Nan Zhang & Wencong Sun & Yao Zhang & Huan-Huan Jiang & Ren-Gen Xiong & Shuai Dong & Han-Yue Zhang, 2023. "Organic radical ferroelectric crystals with martensitic phase transition," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    6. Xuesong Yang & Linfeng Lan & Liang Li & Jinyang Yu & Xiaokong Liu & Ying Tao & Quan-Hong Yang & Panče Naumov & Hongyu Zhang, 2023. "Collective photothermal bending of flexible organic crystals modified with MXene-polymer multilayers as optical waveguide arrays," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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