| Abstract: | ![]()
Phenomena of dissymetrization of molecular crystals are reviewed which lead to sector wise polar properties. Orientational disorder of prolate‐type dipolar molecules taking place at attachment sites can produce partial polar alignment of dipoles in corresponding growth sectors of molecular crystals nucleating into topologically centric packings. As a result bi‐polar crystals are obtained. In case of native polar groups, Monte Carlo simulations predict a basic behaviour for pyroelectric molecular crystals: the dipoles belonging to sectors of either the plus or minus direction of the unique axis show a non‐vanishing probability to be gradually reversed. Domain reversal may start upon a single orientational defect developing into complete sector reversal. Basic features of growth induced stochastic polarity formation are confirmed by scanning pyroelectric microscopy, phase sensitive second harmonic generation microscopy and x‐ray scattering. Real systems comprise channel‐type inclusion compounds, single component molecular crystals, solid solutions and long chain proteins in natural tissues. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) |
