Crystal Adaptronics: Mechanically Reconfigurable Elastic and Superelastic Molecular Crystals

Mechanically reconfigurable molecular crystals—ordered materials that can adapt to variable operating and environmental conditions by deformation, whereby they attain motility or perform work—are quickly shaping a new research direction in materials science, crystal adaptronics. Properties such as elasticity, superelasticity, and ferroelasticity, which are normally related to inorganic materials, and phenomena such as shape-memory and self-healing effects, which are well-established for soft materials, are increasingly being reported for molecular crystals, yet their mechanism, quantification, and relation to the crystal structure of organic crystals are not immediately apparent. This Minireview provides a condensed topical overview of elastic, superelastic, and ferroelastic molecular crystals, new classes of materials that bridge the gap between soft matter and inorganic materials. The occurrence and detection of these unconventional properties, and the underlying structural features of the related molecular materials are discussed and highlighted with selected prominent recent examples.