Crystal engineering concepts

One of the branches of nanotechnology is called crystal engineering. Crystal engineering is a new concept through which the power of noncovalent... 

The use of chemical engineering concepts has already contributed significantly to crystal growth [4], thin-film formation [5-7], and plasma... 

Robson s early work yielded some elegant examples of crystal engineering in which 3-D networks of simple, known structure types, such as the diamondoid and Re03 structures, were built from suitable combinations of metal ions and rigid linkers. Fig. 6 shows a simple example based upon the PtS structure.19 Others have exploited the same concept, including Carlucci el al.,20 who reported some remarkable open-frame-work structures based upon silver in combination with ligands such as pyrazine (Fig. 7). Some of the most striking examples... 

The concept of supermolecular chemistry, chemistry of very large molecules, is also of great current interest and is relevant to both crystal engineering and supramolecular chemistry. When one considers the development of supermolecules , the 1990s will probably be regarded as the key time period in which the basic concepts were delineated and experimental results were forthcoming. Indeed, we have witnessed synthesis and characterization of the largest hydrocar-... 

Control over supramolecular isomers and polymorphs lies at the very heart of the concept of crystal engineering (i.e. design of solids). However, there is presently very little understanding concerning even the existence of supramolecular isomers, never mind how to control them. 

---