Crystals thinner than human hair can move or partly dissolve when exposed to chloroform

Scientists have discovered that incredibly thin crystals, thinner than a single human hair, can undergo remarkable transformations when exposed to chloroform. The crystals, which are composed of rhenium complex molecules, display unique properties that make them suitable for advanced technology applications. Researchers at the University of Tokyo and the University of Hyogo used advanced instruments to study these crystals' behavior under chloroform vapor exposure.

Using high-resolution microscopy and X-ray diffraction, the researchers observed that the crystals absorbed chloroform and underwent significant changes in their molecular structure. In some instances, over 10,000 molecules within the crystal moved cooperatively, leading to a phase transition that altered the crystal's structure. This movement was attributed to changes in the crystal's volume and recrystallization processes.

One notable observation was deliquescence, a phenomenon where the crystal absorbed so much chloroform that parts of it dissolved. This discovery sheds light on the complex behaviors of crystals when interacting with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have various applications, including pollution detection. The researchers' findings offer potential insights into the fundamental behavior of crystals when absorbing vapor, which could pave the way for developing sophisticated devices such as sensors for VOCs.