| Abstract Scope |
The adaptive molecular single crystals are gaining attention as a new class of materials for light, flexible, and environmentally friendly devices, particularly for memories, capacitors, sensors, and actuators. To be effective in high-efficiency energy storage devices, these dynamic materials need to exhibit strongly induced polarization, high switching field, and narrow hysteresis in reversible dynamic processes. However, molecular crystals, which have been predominantly studied by crystallographers, still lack thorough investigations to reliably evaluate their reproducibility, scalability, and actuating performance. This, along with certain drawbacks, has diverted the interest of engineers from these materials. Recently, under the term “crystal adaptronics”, research efforts aim to assess the suitability of dynamic crystals for applications that require fast, reversible, and continuous operation over prolonged periods of time. This lecture will discuss the most recent developments in the research of adaptive molecular crystals, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses based on our decade-long experience with these materials. |