How many more polymorphs of ROY remain undiscovered

With 12 crystal forms, 5-methyl-2-[(2-nitrophenyl)amino]-3-thiophenecabonitrile (a.k.a. ROY) holds the current record for the largest number of fully characterized organic crystal polymorphs. Four of these polymorph structures have been reported since 2019, raising the question of how many more ROY polymorphs await future discovery. Employing crystal structure prediction and accurate energy rankings derived from conformational energy-corrected density functional theory, this study presents the first crystal energy landscape for ROY that agrees well with experiment. The lattice energies suggest that the seven most stable ROY polymorphs (and nine of the twelve lowest-energy forms) on the Z′ = 1 landscape have already been discovered experimentally. Discovering any new polymorphs at ambient pressure will likely require specialized crystallization techniques capable of trapping metastable forms. At pressures above 10 GPa, however, a new crystal form is predicted to become enthalpically more stable than all known polymorphs, suggesting that further high-pressure experiments on ROY may be warranted. This work highlights the value of high-accuracy crystal structure prediction for solid-form screening and demonstrates how pragmatic conformational energy corrections can overcome the limitations of conventional density functionals for conformational polymorphs.

Crystal structure prediction suggests that the low-energy polymorphs of ROY have already been found, but a new high-pressure form is predicted.     

Tetragonal allotrope of group 14 elements

Group 14 elements (C, Si, and Ge) exist as various stable and metastable allotropes, some of which have been widely applied in industry. The discovery of new allotropes of these elements has long attracted considerable attention; however, the search is far from complete. Here we computationally discovered a tetragonal allotrope (12 atoms/cell, named T12) commonly found in C, Si, and Ge through a particle swarm structural search. The T12 structure employs sp(3) bonding and contains extended helical six-membered rings interconnected by pairs of five- and seven-membered rings. This arrangement results in favorable thermodynamic conditions compared with most other experimentally or theoretically known sp(3) species of group 14 elements. The T12 polymorph naturally accounts for the experimental d spacings and Raman spectra of synthesized metastable Ge and Si-XIII phases with long-puzzling unknown structures, respectively. We rationalized an alternative experimental route for the synthesis of the T12 phase via decompression from the high-pressure Si- or Ge-II phase.     

Structural phase transitions in heavy alkali metals under pressure.

We performed a theoretical study of the crystal structures of cesium and rubidium under high compressions. Our results confirm the recent high-pressure experimental observations of new complex crystal structures for the Cs III and Rb III phases. The calculated transition pressures agree extremely well with the measured data. Thus, it is now certain that the famous isostructural phase transition in cesium is actually a new crystallographic phase transition. A d-orbital occupation number of about 0.52 is crucial for the occurrence of these complex structures.     

The prediction, morphology, and mechanical properties of the polymorphs of paracetamol.

The analgesic drug paracetamol (acetaminophen) has two reported metastable polymorphs, one with better tableting properties than the stable form, and another which remains uncharacterized. We have therefore performed a systematic crystal structure prediction search for minima in the lattice energy of crystalline paracetamol. The stable monoclinic form is found as the global lattice-energy minimum, but there are at least a dozen energetically feasible structures found, including the well-characterized metastable orthorhombic phase. Hence, we require additional criteria to reduce the number of hypothetical crystal structures that can be considered as potential polymorphs. For this purpose the elastic properties and vapor growth morphology of the known and predicted structures have been estimated using second-derivative analysis and the attachment-energy model. These inexpensive calculations give reasonable agreement with the available experimental data for the known polymorphs. Some of the hypothetical structures are predicted to have a low growth rate and plate-like morphology, and so are unlikely to be observed. Another is only marginally mechanically stable. Thus, this first consideration of such properties in a crystal-structure prediction study appears to reduce the number of predicted polymorphs while leaving a few candidates for the uncharacterized form.     

Structure and reactivity of pyridine crystal under pressure

In this work we have performed an extensive high pressure study of the condensed phases of pyridine by Raman and IR spectroscopy. We have evidenced three different polymorphs, two crystalline, and one glassy and established the pressure conditions in which they exist as stable or metastable phases by several compression/decompression experiments both on annealed and not annealed samples. Crystallization and phase transitions are found to be kinetically driven. The vibrational spectra are extremely complex due to the low symmetry of the crystals, which implies a large number of crystal components. This complexity required a careful analysis of both IR and Raman data that led to the identification of 20 out of 21 external modes expected for phase II. We did not find any conclusive indication of phase transitions on compressing phase II thus indicating that phase II is likely the stable phase at the onset pressure of the chemical transformation of pyridine. The latter starts at 18 GPa and relevant differences from the well characterized benzene reaction suggest that it is likely driven by crystal defects.     

Synthesis of the new metastable skutterudite compound NiSb(3) from modulated elemental reactants

A new metastable binary compound with the skutterudite crystal structure has been synthesized from modulated elemental reactants, through an amorphous intermediate, using a novel low-temperature synthesis technique. The amorphous reaction intermediate undergoes nucleation at 87 degrees C, an extremely low temperature for solid-state reactions. When heated above 350 degrees C, the metastable phase NiSb(3) disproportionates into the thermodynamically stable phases NiSb(2) and Sb. Also, if the sum of the individual elemental layer thicknesses is greater than 30 A, a mixture of different phases forms. Simulation of the high-angle powder X-ray diffraction spectrum confirms that NiSb(3) is isostructural with CoSb(3).     

BH3 under pressure: leaving the molecular diborane motif

Molecular and crystalline structures of (BH(3))(n) have been theoretically studied in the pressure regime from 1 atm to 100 GPa. At lower pressures, crystals of the familiar molecular dimer are the structure of choice. At 1 atm, in addition to the well-characterized β diborane structure, we suggest a new polymorph of B(2)H(6), fitting the diffraction lines observed in the very first X-ray diffraction investigation of solid diborane, that of Mark and Pohland in 1925. We also find a number of metastable structures for oligomers of BH(3), including cyclic trimers, tetramers, and hexamers. While the higher oligomers as well as one-dimensional infinite chains (bent at the bridging hydrogens) are less stable than the dimer at ambient pressure, they are stabilized, for reasons of molecular compactness, by application of external pressure. Using periodic DFT calculations, we predict that near 4 GPa a molecular crystal constructed from discrete trimers replaces the β diborane structure as the most stable phase and remains as such until 36 GPa. At higher pressures, a crystal of polymeric, one-dimensional chains is preferred, until at least 100 GPa.     

Metastable extension of the sublimation curve and the critical contact point

Molecular dynamics methods have been employed in order to calculate the (p,rho,T)-properties and the internal energy of gas and crystal phases in stable and metastable equilibrium coexistence states for a model system consisting of 2048 Lennard-Jones particles. Thermal and caloric equations of state and the spinodal curves of the vapor and crystal phases have been determined. A new algorithm for the computation of phase equilibrium curves is suggested. Employing this method, the sublimation curve and its metastable extension to temperatures above the triple point have been calculated. It is found that the crystal-gas phase equilibrium terminates on the spinodal of the superheated crystal. The point of contact of the sublimation line and the spinodal is a singular point of the thermodynamic surface of states of a simple system considered.     

Discovering Intermetallics Through Synthesis,Computation, and Data-Driven Analysis

Intermetallics adopt an array of crystal structures, boast diverse chemical compositions, and possess exotic physical properties that have led to a wide range of applications from the biomedical to aerospace industries. Despite a long history of intermetallic synthesis and crystal structure analysis, identifying new intermetallic phases has remained challenging due to the prolonged nature of experimental phase space searching or the need for fortuitous discovery. In this Minireview, new approaches that build on the traditional methods for materials synthesis and characterization are discussed with a specific focus on realizing novel intermetallics. Indeed, advances in the computational modeling of solids using density functional theory in combination with structure prediction algorithms have led to new high-pressure phases, functional intermetallics, and aided experimental efforts. Furthermore, the advent of data-centered methodologies has provided new opportunities to rapidly predict crystal structures, physical properties, and the existence of unknown compounds. Describing the research results for each of these examples in depth while also highlighting the numerous opportunities to merge traditional intermetallic synthesis and characterization with computation and informatics provides insight that is essential to advance the discovery of metal-rich solids.     

Molecular simulation of cross-nucleation between polymorphs

Recent experiments report that an early nucleating crystalline structure (or polymorph) may nucleate another polymorph. We use molecular dynamics simulations to model this phenomenon known as cross-nucleation. We study the onset of crystallization in a liquid of Lennard-Jones particles cooled at a temperature 22% below the melting temperature. We show that growth proceeds through the successive cross-nucleation of the metastable hexagonal close-packed (hcp) polymorph on the stable face-centered cubic (fcc) polymorph and of the stable fcc polymorph on the metastable hcp polymorph. This finding is in agreement with the experimental results which demonstrated that the cross-nucleation of a stable polymorph on a metastable polymorph is just as likely as the cross-nucleation of a metastable polymorph on a stable polymorph. We then extend our findings established in the case of the homogeneous crystal nucleation to a situation of practical interest, i.e., when a seed of the stable polymorph is used. By studying the crystal growth from the (111) plane of a perfect fcc crystal, we show that, again, growth proceeds through the cross-nucleation of the hcp and fcc structures.     

When is H2O not water?

We have combined a computational search strategy with first-principles density-functional-theory calculations to identify metastable phases of H(2)O under pressure. The most stable structures consist of water molecules, while the most energetic metastable phases consist of oxygen and hydrogen molecules. In between lie many other metastable phases, consisting of various combinations of a few small molecules. It may be possible to synthesize some of these metastable phases, and we use our results to understand the nature of the crystalline metastable phase of H(2)O recently synthesized by Mao et al. [Science 314, 636 (2006)].     

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Metal Silicates

Organically templated metal phosphates have been extensively studied because of interesting structural chemistry and potential applications in catalysis. However, in most cases the organic templates cannot be removed without collapse of the frameworks. This is in contrast to the high thermal stability and extensive applications of zeolites in refinery and petrochemical processes.Therefore, studies have been directed to the synthesis of transition metal silicates to produce more stable frameworks. Our synthetic methods are twofold, namely mild hydrothermal reactions in Teflon-lined autoclaves at 100-200 ℃ using organic amines as templates and high-temperature,high-pressure hydrothermal reactions in gold ampoules contained in a high-pressure reaction vessel at ca. 550 ℃ and 150 Mpa using alkali metal cations as templates. In this presentation I will report the high-temperature, high-pressure hydrothermal synthesis, crystal structures, and solid-state NMR spectroscopy of a number of new silicates of indium, uranium, and transition metals.     

Ordered binary crystal phases of Lennard-Jones mixtures

The lattice energies at zero temperature are calculated, using Lennard-Jones interactions, for a large number of crystal structures associated with ordered binary compounds. In units of the AA interaction length and strength (i.e., sigmaAA= epsilonAA= 1.0) we examine the lowest energy structures, including coexisting phases, across the space of cross-species interactions 0.6< or = sigmaAB< or = 1.1 and 1.0< or = epsilonAB< or = 2.0. The remaining parameters sigmaBB= 0.88 and epsilonBB= 0.5 are chosen so that the parameter space studied includes the space of binary glass-forming alloys. In addition to some large unit cell structures such as Ni3P and PuBr3 appearing among the lowest lattice energies, a number of low-energy structures based on close-packed lattices are found that do not correspond to any experimentally observed crystals. The prevalence and stability of metastable crystal phases at the compositions AB, A2B, and A3B is examined.     

Phase transitions and conformational changes in an antiferroelectric liquid crystal 4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl)phenyl 4'-octyloxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate (MHPOBC)

The thermodynamic properties and conformational structures in the crystalline and liquid crystalline phases of 4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl)phenyl 4'-octyloxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate (MHPOBC) have been investigated by Raman scattering, X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). MHPOBC can assume two different crystalline states at room temperature depending on crystallization conditions, and heating transforms the metastable crystal to the stable one before melting. In the liquid crystalline phases, Raman scattering spectra have revealed not only the flip-flop twisting vibration of the biphenyl group but also the internal rotation around C-C bonds between the carbonyl groups and the corresponding benzene rings.     

Ab initio computation of the low-temperature phase diagrams of the alkali metal iodide-bromides: MBr(x)I1-x (0 </= x </= 1), Where M = Li, Na, K, Rb, or Cs

We have studied the low-temperature phase diagrams of the systems MBr-MI (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, or Cs) via global exploration of the enthalpy landscapes for many different compositions, leading to candidates for solid solution-like and ordered crystalline phases. For all of these candidates the free enthalpies are computed at the ab initio level, and the low-temperature phase diagrams of the five chemical systems are derived. We find not only the expected stable solid solution in the rocksalt structure type but also metastable solid solutions based on the CsCl type for the RbBr-RbI and CsCl-CsI systems. Furthermore, additional metastable structure candidates exhibiting ordered crystalline structures exist for several compositions. In the case of the LiBr-LiI system, the metastable solid solution based on the wurtzite type was generated, and the location of the miscibility gap was predicted.     

Twist grain boundary and frustrated liquid crystal phases

Research into the structures and properties of frustrated liquid crystal phases continues apace. A number of new twist grain boundary phases have been discovered, of particular interest are those with their rod-like molecules inclined to the layer planes, i.e. the TGBC phases. A new anticlinic TGBC phase has also been discovered complimenting the synclinic TGBC phases. In addition a number of smectic blue phases (BP_Sm) have recently been discovered.     

Phase separations in liquid crystal-colloid mixtures

We present a mean-field theory to describe phase separations in mixtures of a nematic liquid crystal and a colloidal particle. The theory takes into account an orientational ordering of liquid crystals and a crystalline ordering of colloidal particles. We calculate phase diagrams on the temperature-concentration plane, depending on interactions between a liquid crystal and a colloidal surface and a coupling between nematic and crystalline ordering. We find various phase separation processes, such as a nematic-crystal phase separation and nematic-isotropic-crystal triple point. Inside binodal curves, we find new unstable and metastable regions which are important in phase ordering dynamics. We also find a stable nematic-crystalline (NC) phase, where colloidal particles dispersed in a nematic phase can form a crystalline structure. The coexistence between two NC phases with different concentrations can be appear though the coupling between nematic and crystalline ordering.     

Structural and dynamical properties of solid ammonia borane under high pressure

The structural and dynamical properties of solid ammonia borane were investigated by means of extensive density functional theory calculation up to 60 GPa. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the Cmc2(1) phase found by recent room-temperature x-ray diffraction experiments can be obtained from the Pmn2(1) structure at high pressure and low temperature. Two new high-pressure phases were found on further compression at room temperature. We also found that all three high-pressure phases have proton-ordered structures, and the separation of the NH(3) and BH(3) rotation observed in the simulations can be explained by their distinct rotational energy barriers. The role of dihydrogen bonds in the high-pressure phases is discussed.     

Determination of fluid--solid transitions in model protein solutions using the histogram reweighting method and expanded ensemble simulations

Protein crystallization conditions are usually identified by empirical screening methods because of the complexity of the process, such as the existence of nonequilibrium phases and the different crystal forms that may result from changes in solution conditions. Here the crystallization of a model protein is studied using computer simulation. The model consists of spheres that have both an isotropic interaction of short range and anisotropic interactions between patch-antipatch pairs. The free energy of a protein crystal is calculated using expanded ensemble simulations of the Einstein crystal, and NpT-Monte Carlo simulations with histogram reweighting are used to determine the fluid-solid coexistence. The histogram reweighting method is also used to trace out the complete coexistence curve, including multiple crystal phases, with varying reduced temperature, which corresponds to changing solution conditions. At a patch-antipatch interaction strength five times that of the isotropic interaction, the protein molecules form a stable simple cubic structure near room temperature, whereas an orientationally disordered face-centered-cubic structure is favored at higher temperatures. The anisotropic attractions also lead to a weak first-order transition between orientationally disordered and ordered face-centered-cubic structures at low temperature, although this transition is metastable. A complete phase diagram, including a fluid phase, three solid phases, and two triple points, is found for the six-patch protein model. A 12-patch protein model, consistent with the face-centered-cubic structure, leads to greater thermodynamic stability of the ordered phase. Metastable liquid-liquid phase equilibria for isotropic models with varying attraction tails are also predicted from Gibbs ensemble simulations.     

Equilibrium and non-equilibrium phase transitions studied by adiabatic calorimetry

An adiabatic calorimetry was used for some investigations of equilibrium and non-equilibrium phase transitions. For one of the substances studied (4,4′-di-n-heptyloxyazoxybenzene) it was possible to determine temperature dependence of an order parameter and number of clusters of high temperature phase in a region of a phase transition. For another substance (liquid 3,4 dimethylpiridine) an anomaly on the specific heat curves was interpreted as being responsible for a decay of molecules’ clusters. Non-equilibrium phase transitions were investigated for some liquid crystal substances. The process of transformation between metastable and stable phases was described quantitatively. The conclusions obtained concern the stability of metastable phases.