Size Reduction to Enhance Crystal-to-Liquid Phase Transition Induced by E-to-Z Photoisomerization Based on Molecular Crystals of Phenylbutadiene Ester

Yu-Hao Li; Min Cui; Yi Gong; Tian-Yi Xu; Fei Tong

doi:10.3390/ma17153664

Materials (Jul 2024)

Size Reduction to Enhance Crystal-to-Liquid Phase Transition Induced by E-to-Z Photoisomerization Based on Molecular Crystals of Phenylbutadiene Ester

Yu-Hao Li,
Min Cui,
Yi Gong,
Tian-Yi Xu,
Fei Tong

Affiliations

Yu-Hao Li: Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
Min Cui: Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
Yi Gong: Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
Tian-Yi Xu: Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
Fei Tong: Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17153664
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 17, no. 15
p. 3664

Abstract

Read online

Harnessing the photoinduced phase transitions in organic crystals, especially the changes in shape and structure across various dimensions, offers a fascinating avenue for exact spatiotemporal control, which is crucial for developing future smart devices. In our study, we report a new photoactive molecular crystal made from (E)-2-(3-phenyl-allylidene)malonate ((E)-PADM). When exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light at 365 nm, this compound experiences an E-to-Z photoisomerization in liquid solution and a crystal-to-liquid phase transition in solid crystals. Remarkably, nanoscopic crystalline rods boost their melting rate and degree compared to bulk crystals, indicating that miniaturization enhances the photoinduced melting effect. Our results demonstrate a simple approach to rapidly drive molecular crystals into liquids via photochemical reactions and phase transitions.

Published in Materials

ISSN: 1996-1944 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering; Technology: Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General); Science: Natural history (General): Microscopy; Science: Physics: Descriptive and experimental mechanics
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords