Have you seen the video cover from CrystEngComm? 

Illustrating the work published in their CrystEngComm article, Bergström et al. provide us with an overview of the growth process of self-assembled mesocrystals and ordered arrays from iron oxide nanocubes. By using visible light video microscopy, the authors were able to follow the movement of the growth crystal growth front over several minutes, capturing the transition from symmetrical “coffee-ring” deposition to dendritic or “finger-like” growth. The article forms part of the ‘Nanocrystal growth via oriented attachment’ themed issue which is available here. 

In a first for both CrystEngComm and the Royal Society of Chemistry, a short video clip of the crystal growth has been embedded into the journal cover which you can access online here. To view the video, simply click on the main cover image and watch the cover come to life!* Adobe Acrobat 9 or higher is required (http://get.adobe.com/reader/). If the video does not play in your browser, try downloading it and opening it in Adobe Acrobat on your desktop.  

We’re on the look-out for innovative ways to showcase research so do not hesitate to get in touch if you have a video or animated graphics to help tell the story of your published CrystEngComm article. 

We’ve been experimenting with some other engaging ways of adding the authors’ video to both the cover and the article.

Video on the article landing page

We’ve added the full version of the video to the article landing page here, where it appears below the traditional abstract text and image. To enable us to embed the video we uploaded it to our YouTube channel, RSC Journals, which has the added benefit of making it available to people looking for chemistry videos on YouTube.

Video on your tablet or smartphone

You can also watch the full video on your tablet or smartphone using a free augmented reality app called Junaio Augmented Reality Browser. To do this you’ll need a tablet or phone that’s connected to the internet and has a camera on the back.

To watch the video:

•              Use you app store of choice to install Junaio.

•              Get the cover image ready to scan. You can open the article pdf from here to the first page on your computer screen, print the first page (this will work for both colour and greyscale printing), or just scan the image in this blog post.

•              Open the Junaio app, position your phone or tablet so that the cover image is on the screen, and press the scan button in the top right corner of the screen.

•              The Royal Society of Chemistry logo will appear briefly in the top left corner, indicating that you have connected to our channel, and then the YouTube video page will be displayed.

•              Press play and enjoy the video.

One of the nice things about the augmented reality version is that the video is associated with the image, not just the cover, which makes it quite versatile. For example, the authors could use the image (without the play button and the journal branding) on a conference poster and people with a suitable phone or tablet would also be able to scan it and watch the video.

Please do have a look and let us know what you think in the comments. Which versions are good and which could be better? What are your favourite features and why? Is there anything else you would like to see?

For more information about the science behind the video, read the free-to-access CrystEngComm article using the link below and watch the video on the article landing page. 

Dynamic growth modes of ordered arrays and mesocrystals during drop-casting of iron oxide nanocubes 
CrystEngComm, 2014, 16, 1443-1450

Please do let us know what you think by commenting below! Would you like to see more videos in Royal Society of Chemistry journals? 

                  

Submit your work to the 2014 CrystEngComm themed issue on Colloidal self-assembled supracrystals and heterostructures guest edited by:

Professor Marie-Paule Pileni, University P&M Curie, UPMC, Paris. Member of Institut Universitaire de France
Dr P. Davide Cozzoli, Università del Salento & National Nanotechnology Laboratory
Professor Nicola Pinna, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Colloidal nanochemistry offers the possibility of synthesising nanostructured materials that exhibit novel and/or collective properties, and have capabilities that can be exploited in multiple applications. As such, the understanding of the formation of complex all-nanocrystal-made structures from their building blocks is essential for the design of hierarchically structured materials.

This CrystEngComm themed issue will focus on novel approaches and strategies for the assembly and the hetero-structuring of colloidal nanocrystals, with a special emphasis on the underlying formation mechanisms.

 How to submit?
All types of manuscript—communications, full papers and Highlights, will be considered for publication. The manuscript should be prepared according to our article guidelines and submitted via our online system.

All manuscripts will be subject to the normal refereeing procedure and inclusion in the themed issue will be at the discretion of the Guest Editors. Please indicate in your submission that you would like the manuscript to be considered for this themed issue.

The deadline for submissions is 31^st March 2014.

                  

We are delighted to announce two new CrystEngComm themed issues to be published in 2015:

Polymorphism
Guest Editors: Professors T.N. Guru Row (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore) and Ashwini Nangia (University of Hyderabad)
Deadline: 1st January 2015

Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Transformations
Guest Editors: Professors Parimal K. Bharadwaj (Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur) and Panče Naumov (New York University Abu Dhabi)
Deadline: 6th January 2015

Fundamentals of Nanocrystal Formation
Guest Editors: Professor Georg Garnweitner (Technische Universität Braunschweig), Dr Denis Gebauer (University of Konstanz) and Professor Markus Niederberger (ETH Zurich)
Deadline: 4th March 2015

Does your research fit into any of these subject areas? If so, we would welcome your contribution. For further details on issue scopes and on how to submit, see below:

How to submit

All types of manuscript – communications, full papers and Highlights, will be considered for publication. The manuscript should be prepared according to our article guidelines and submitted via our online system.

All manuscripts will be subject to normal peer review and inclusion in the themed issue will be at the discretion of the Guest Editors. Please indicate in your submission which themed issue you would like to be considered for.

Issue scopes

Polymorphism
This issue will focus on the contemporary theme of polymorphism in all its manifestations and applications. It will cover the fundamental understanding of crystal nucleation and growth, energies of polymorphs and their phase transformations, polymorphism in non-ambient conditions, novel polymorphs induced by additives and hetero-nuclei, and polymorphs resulting from spatial confinement.

Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Transformations
This issue will focus on processes where the long-range structures of single crystals are retained. This includes, but is not restricted to: photochemical reactions, solid-solid reactions, solid-gas reactions and phase transitions.

Fundamentals of Nanocrystal Formation
This themed issue focuses on novel insights and fundamental studies on the formation of nanocrystals, including amorphous intermediates, in both liquid and gas phase systems.

Research relating to the effect of structural properties - including molecular and supramolecular structure, size effects and others – on the conservation of long-range order from the macroscale to the nanoscale, is also within the focus, as are discussions on systems where long range order is lost. The contributions will span a broad range of subjects across chemistry, materials science, and physics.

Are you interested in contributing? Contact us for further details

                  

We are delighted to announce a new CrystEngComm themed issue to be published in 2016:

New Talent

Guest Editors: Professor Rahul Banerjee (CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory), Professor Graeme Day (University of Southampton), Professor Tomislav Friščić (McGill University) and Professor Hongjie Zhang (Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry).

Deadline: 24^th December 2015

This themed issue will focus on cutting-edge research covering all aspects of the design and understanding of solid state and crystalline materials – from supramolecular interactions to crystal growth – and it will showcase the excellent work being carried out around the world by emerging members of the academic community.

Are you an emerging member of the academic community with research in this area? If so, we would welcome your contribution.

Form and function of molecular cups and capsules

Guest Editors: Dr Scott Dalgarno (Heriot-Watt University) and Dr Agnieszka Szumna (Institute of Organic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences).

Deadline: 1st February 2016

This themed issue will focus on the design, assembly, crystalline structure and properties of supramolecular compounds made from building blocks such as calixarenes, cucurbiturils, cyclodextrins, cryptands and other encapsulating species..

Do you work in the field of solid state molecular capsules? If so, let us know using the link below.

How to submit

All types of manuscript – communications, full papers and Highlights, will be considered for publication. The manuscript should be prepared according to our article guidelines and submitted via our online system.

All manuscripts will be subject to normal peer review and inclusion in the themed issue will be at the discretion of the Guest Editors. Please indicate in your submission the name of the themed issue that you would like to be considered for.

Are you interested in contributing? Contact us for further details

                  

We are delighted to announce two new CrystEngComm themed issues to be published in 2017:

Metal Organic Framework Catalysis Guest Editors: Professors Christian Doonan and Christopher Sumby (University of Adelaide, Australia) Deadline: 27^th February 2017

Covalent Organic Frameworks and Organic Cage Structures Guest Editors: Professors Rahul Banerjee (CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, India) and Neil Champness (University of Nottingham, UK) Deadline: 28th March 2017

Does your research fit into any of these subject areas? If so, we would welcome your contribution. For further details on issue scopes and on how to submit, see below:

How to submit

All types of manuscript – communications, full papers and highlights, will be considered for publication. The manuscript should be prepared according to our article guidelines and submitted via our online system.

All manuscripts will be subject to normal peer review and inclusion in the themed issue will be at the discretion of the Guest Editors. Please indicate in your submission which themed issue you would like to be considered for.

Issue scopes

Metal-Organic Framework Catalysis: This issue will focus on structural aspects of MOFs related to catalysis including but not limited to; post-synthetic modification strategies, incorporation of catalytic moieties into the framework structure, the generation of coordinatively unsaturated or defect sites and the characterisation of composite materials and hierarchical architectures that display catalytic properties. Structural and mechanistic insight into catalytic reactions garnered through MOF chemistry are also sought. MOFs are promising materials for heterogeneous catalysis and the central aim of this special issue is to elucidate how structural motifs can be incorporated into the design of MOFs with potentially novel catalytic activities.

Covalent Organic Frameworks and Organic Cage Structures: The aim of this themed issue is to focus on the design strategies for the construction of porous organic materials, including covalent organic frameworks and organic cage structures with new physicochemical properties. This issue will also focus on any associated challenges in terms of synthesis, crystallization and structure–property relationships of covalent organic frameworks and organic cage structures.

Interested in submitting a paper? Please contact us for more information

                  

Have you read our latest themed collection on ‘The effects of extreme conditions on molecular solids’?

Guest-edited by Iain D. H. Oswald and Christine M. Beavers, this collection delves into the realm of high pressure and celebrates the advances that have been made over the past few years. The breadth of systems investigated in this issue demonstrate an increase in complexity as well as the advancements in techniques that have enabled this to occur.

Read the full collection online here or browse a selection of articles below:

The high-pressure and low-temperature structural behaviour of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol
S. A. Barnett and D. R. Allan
CrystEngComm, 2019, 21, 4501-4506
DOI: 10.1039/C9CE00485H, Paper

High-pressure polymorphism in L-threonine between ambient pressure and 22 GPa
Nico Giordano, Christine M. Beavers, Konstantin V. Kamenev, William G. Marshall, Stephen A. Moggach, Simon D. Patterson, Simon J. Teat, John E. Warren, Peter A. Wood and Simon Parsons
CrystEngComm, 2019, 21, 4444-4456
DOI: 10.1039/C9CE00388F, Paper

A structural exploration of anisole accessed through extreme crystallisation conditions
Ellie Louvain Smith, Joe Ridout, Jonathan David Sellars and Michael Richard Probert
CrystEngComm, 2019, 21, 4422-4426
DOI: 10.1039/C9CE00870E, Communication

High-pressure crystallisation studies of biodiesel and methyl stearate
X. Liu, C. L. Bull, A. K. Kleppe, P. J. Dowding, K. Lewtas and C. R. Pulham
CrystEngComm, 2019, 21, 4427-4436
DOI: 10.1039/C9CE00393B, Paper

Submit your work to CrystEngComm – Check our website for handy tips and guidelines or find out more about the benefits of publishing with the Royal Society of Chemistry.

                  

We are delighted to announce a CrystEngComm themed issue to be published in 2021:

Crystal Growth of Nanomaterials:

Guest Editors: Professor Dongfeng Xue (Multiscale Crystal Materials Research Center of Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology of CAS, China),  Professor Dr Georg Garnweitner (Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany) and Professor Kwangyeol Lee (Korea University, Korea).

Deadline: 31^st May 2021

Does your research fit into this subject area? If so, we would welcome your contribution. For further details on issue scope and on how to submit, see below:

Issue scope

The field of nanomaterials continues to be highly dynamic, with more and more complex products being synthesized in highly defined form. For many applications, crystalline materials with tailored properties are desired, necessitating an adjustment of size or morphology. It is imperative to understand the growth mechanisms and processes of these materials, which enables their facile tailoring by thermodynamic and kinetic control. For many systems, a host of synthesis strategies have been reported, but the actual growth processes and mechanisms remain elusive.

Therefore, in this themed issue, we intend to specifically shed a light on recent advances on the understanding and control of crystal growth mechanisms and processes of nanomaterials. Thereby, all kinds of materials as well as all possible synthesis strategies and growth theories, both in the liquid phase or gas phase, at room temperature or high temperatures, are covered.

How to submit

All types of manuscript – communications, full papers and highlights, will be considered for publication. The manuscript should be prepared according to our article guidelines and submitted via our online system.

All manuscripts will be subject to the usual initial assessment and peer review processes as necessary, and inclusion in the themed issue will be at the discretion of the Guest Editors. Please indicate in your submission that you are submitting to the themed issue.

Interested in submitting a paper? Please contact us for more information

                  

The latest CrystEngComm themed collection, Host‒Guest chemistry: in honour of Luigi Nassimbeni’s 9th decade is now online! Guest edited by Associate Editor, Professor Susan Bourne, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Professor Len Barbour, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa and Professor Nikoletta Bathori, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa, this collection aims to pay tribute to the remarkable achievements of Luigi Nassimbeni as he enters his 9th decade, and to celebrate him as an esteemed mentor, whose ideas and advancement of host-guest chemistry live on in successive generations of supramolecular chemists.

Host-guest chemistry has developed into a broad and exciting field of study, expanding rapidly from its early beginnings in the 1980s. From the study of inclusion compounds, this area of endeavour has evolved to encompass polymorphism, solid-state reactivity, multicomponent crystals, and mechanochemistry, with applications in separation, catalysis, chemical sensors and nanotechnology.

Luigi Nassimbeni has been highly influential in the development of this field, from early studies on hydrogen-bonded synthons, to advances in the separation of closely related organic compounds. Over the years, Luigi Nassimbeni has mentored many students who have gone on to establish their own independent careers in the field. He has played a significant role in the development of solid-state chemistry in South Africa, particularly with regard to X-ray diffraction, and through his early application of thermal analysis to the study of inclusion compounds. He was ahead of his time when he proposed, during the 1980’s, that it might be possible to activate some molecular crystals to yield porous structures for guest inclusion. This collection highlights his recent publications in CrystEngComm, as well as other recent articles on the topic of host-guest chemstry, along with new submissions from colleagues around the world.

See the full collection here

If you have primary research in the area of Host‒Guest chemistry ready for publication submit to CrystEngComm – see our author guidelines for information on our article types or find out more about the advantages of publishing in a Royal Society of Chemistry journal.

                  

We are delighted to share with you our latest themed collection Crystal Growth of Nanomaterials. This themed issue is focused on recent advances in the understanding and control of crystal growth mechanisms and processes of nanomaterials and was guest edited by Professor Dongfeng Xue, Multiscale Crystal Materials Research Center, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; Professor Georg Garnweitner, Institute for Particle Technology and Laboratory for Emerging Nanometrology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany and Professor Kwangyeol Lee, Department of Chemistry, Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Korea University, Republic of Korea.

Selected articles from the issue:

Colloidal chemical bottom-up synthesis routes of pnictogen (As, Sb, Bi) nanostructures with tailored properties and applications: a summary of the state of the art and main insights Stefanos Mourdikoudis and Zdeněk Sofer https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CE01766C
Surface-directed ZnGa2O4 and β-Ga2O3 nanofins coated with a non-polar GaN shell based on the Kirkendall effect Babak Nikoobakht, Aaron C. Johnston-Peck, David Laleyan, Ping Wang and Zetian Mi https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CE00744K
Spin crossover crystalline materials engineered via single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformations Shufang Xue, Yunnan Guo and Yann Garcia https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CE00234A

Read the full collection here

About CrystEngComm

Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry and with a truly international Editorial Board, CrystEngComm is the forum for the design and understanding of crystalline materials. We welcome studies on the investigation of molecular behaviour within crystals, control of nucleation and crystal growth, engineering of crystal structures, and construction of crystalline materials with tuneable properties and functions.

We invite you to submit your research to CrystEngComm and give your work the global visibility it deserves.

Submit your research now

To keep up to date with the latest articles and other journal news, sign up to the e-alerts.

                  

We are delighted to share with you our latest themed issue New Talent 2022.

This issue celebrates the significant contributions from early career researchers to the field of crystal engineering.

This collection is guest edited by:

Professor Christian Doonan, University of Adelaide, Australia
Professor Kwangyeol Lee, Korea University, Korea

Read the full collection here

Browse a selection of the articles featured in the issue below:

Fast and reversible bidirectional photomechanical response displayed by a flexible polycrystalline aggregate of a hydrazone Poonam Gupta, Suryanarayana Allu, Pragyan J. Hazarika, Nisha R. Ray, Ashwini K. Nangia and Naba K. Nath CrystEngComm, 2022, 24, 7261-7265
Magnetic order in a metal thiocyanate perovskite-analogue Matthew J. Cliffe, Oscar Fabelo and Laura Cañadillas-Delgado CrystEngComm, 2022, 24, 7250-7254
App-based quantification of crystal phases and amorphous content in ZIF biocomposites Michael R. Hafner, Laura Villanova and Francesco Carraro CrystEngComm, 2022, 24, 7266-7271
Three-dimensional Cd(II) porphyrin metal–organic frameworks for the colorimetric sensing of Electron donors Hui Min Tay, Emily J. Goddard and Carol Hua CrystEngComm, 2022,24, 7277-7282
Hydrogen and halogen bond synergy in the self-assembly of 3,5-dihalo-tyrosines: structural and theoretical insights Lorenzo Sori, Andrea Pizzi, Nicola Demitri, Giancarlo Terraneo, Antonio Frontera and Pierangelo Metrangolo CrystEngComm, 2022,24, 7255-7260

We hope you enjoy these articles and the rest in the collection