在该研究中，小组报道了一个前所未有的发现——晶体生长时累积的晶格张力可作为一种内源性触发，导致多组分结晶时的路径选择。该研究团队发现了一种“自发的”晶体转变，在这种转变中，最初通过排除柱状成分形成的动力学偏好的层状晶体，在其几何中心携带一个位错。这种晶体“自发地”解放出一个核心区域，以缓解位错周围累积的晶格张力。因此，被解放的部分是动态的，并使得柱状配体得以侵入晶格，从而转变成一个热力学偏好的柱-层晶体。
研究人员表示，多组分结晶在材料科学、生物学、地质学等研究领域具有普遍的重要性，为晶体工程提供了新的发展机遇。这个过程包括多个相互竞争的动力学和热力学事件，其中“外源性触发”通常帮助系统选择合适的路径来构建所需的结构。
附：英文原文
Title: Accumulated Lattice Strain as an Internal Trigger for Spontaneous Pathway Selection
Author: Hubiao Huang, Hiroshi Sato, Jenny Pirillo, Yuh Hijikata, Yong Sheng Zhao, Stephen Z. D. Cheng, Takuzo Aida
Issue&Volume: September 10, 2021
Abstract: Multicomponent crystallization is universally important in various research fields including materials science as well as biology and geology, and presents new opportunities in crystal engineering. This process includes multiple kinetic and thermodynamic events that compete with each other, wherein “external triggers” often help the system select appropriate pathways for constructing desired structures. Here we report an unprecedented finding that a lattice strain accumulated with the growth of a crystal serves as an “internal trigger” for pathway selection in multicomponent crystallization. We discovered a “spontaneous” crystal transition, where the kinetically preferred layered crystal, initially formed by excluding the pillar component, carries a single dislocation at its geometrical center. This crystal “spontaneously” liberates a core region to relieve the accumulated lattice strain around the dislocation. Consequently, the liberated part becomes dynamic and enables the pillar ligand to invade the crystalline lattice, thereby transforming into a thermodynamically preferred pillared-layer crystal.
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c06854
Source: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.1c06854
