Macromolecular Crystals

Aims

The section “Macromolecular Crystals” provides a forum to report advancements in the understanding of the synthesis, nucleation, growth, processing, structure, properties, and applications of Macromolecular Crystals. Their mechanical, chemical, electrical, magnetic, catalytic, optical, and self-assembly properties, as well as their innovative applications, are all considered to be of special importance. We encourage contributors to submit reviews, regular research articles, and short communications focused on the synthesis, crystallization, characterization, properties, and theoretical aspects of Macromolecular Crystals. Their characterization using modern techniques for crystal growth and high-resolution characterization such as synchrotron radiation and modern methods for the growth of crystals for X-ray free electron lasers (XFELS) would also be welcome.

Crystals serves as a reference and publication source for the crystal research community. Crystals publishes reviews, regular research articles, and short communications rapidly. Our aim is to encourage scientists to publish their experimental, theoretical, and computational results in as much detail as possible so that results can be reproduced. Therefore, there are no restrictions on article length.

Subject Areas

All classes of non-natural Macromolecular Crystals such as inorganic and organic polymers, or inorganic and organic large non-polymeric molecules, including but not limited to:

• Plastics
• Synthetic fibers
• Synthetic rubber
• Graphene carbon nanotubes
• Polymer composites
• Metal‐coordination polymers
• Hybrid polymeric materials
• Metal–organic frameworks
• Macrocycles
• Macrocyclic metal complexes
• Eutectic molecular liquids

Crystal growth methods include but are not limited to:

• Bridgmann method
• Czochralski method
• Vernuil method
• Zone melting method
• Kyropoulos technique
• Skull melting
• Slow cooling method
• Solvent evaporation method
• Temperature gradient method
• High-temperature solution growth
• Hydro thermal growth
• Gel growth method
• Chemical transport method
• Physical transport method

Characterization techniques include but are not limited to:

• X-ray diffraction
• X-ray free electron lasers (XFELS)
• X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements
• Synchrotron X-rays
• Electron crystallography
• Microcrystal electron diffraction
• Small-angle X-ray scattering
• Neutron diffraction
• Density functional theory (DFT) calculations
• Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM)
• Cryogenic electron microscopy

Investigations on properties including but not limited to:

• Mechanical properties
• Chemical properties
• Electrical properties
• Magnetic properties
• Optical properties
• Catalytic properties
• Self-assembly properties