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Emergence of chirality and structural complexity in single crystals at the molecular and morphological levels

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Chiara di Gregorio

    (Weizmann Institute of Science)

  • Linda J. W. Shimon

    (Weizmann Institute of Science)

  • Vlad Brumfeld

    (Weizmann Institute of Science)

  • Lothar Houben

    (Weizmann Institute of Science)

  • Michal Lahav

    (Weizmann Institute of Science)

  • Milko E. van der Boom

    (Weizmann Institute of Science)

Abstract

Naturally occurring single crystals having a multidomain morphology are a counterintuitive phenonomon: the macroscopic appearance is expected to follow the symmetry of the unit cell. Growing such crystals in the lab is a great challenge, especially from organic molecules. We achieve here uniform metallo-organic crystals that exhibit single crystallinity with apparently distinct domains and chirality. The chirality is present at both the molecular and macroscopic levels, although only achiral elements are used. “Yo-yo”-like structures having opposite helical handedness evolve from initially formed seemingly achiral cylinders. This non-polyhedral morphology coexists with a continuous coordination network forming homochiral channels. This work sheds light on the enigmatic aspects of fascinating crystallization processes occurring in biological mineralization. Our findings open up opportunities to generate new porous and hierarchical chiral materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Chiara di Gregorio & Linda J. W. Shimon & Vlad Brumfeld & Lothar Houben & Michal Lahav & Milko E. van der Boom, 2020. "Emergence of chirality and structural complexity in single crystals at the molecular and morphological levels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-13925-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13925-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Shengfu Wu & Xin Song & Cong Du & Minghua Liu, 2024. "Macroscopic homochiral helicoids self-assembled via screw dislocations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.

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