Crystal Growth in Small Molecular Systems

Abstract

In order to develop an understanding of the factors which will influence the growth of crystal structure in high molecular weight materials, the crystal growth in small molecules is firstly considered. The structures which are created depend on a number of factors which include homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation of the crystal growth process and modification of the habit by the influence of impurities. The underlying theory of crystal growth is developed and the balance between the kinetic and thermodynamic driving forces considered. By considering the detailed interactions occurring in the solid state it is possible to employ a computer to help predict the structure of the crystals. Chiral molecules are able to create mirror image structures, certain systems can crystallize into non-centrosymmetric structures which exhibit ferroelectric characteristics. The concepts developed in this chapter are used later in the monograph to understand the related crystallization in polymer systems.