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The thermal expansion behavior of a series of halogen-bonded cocrystals containing 1,4-diiodoperchlorobenzene as the donor is described. Two of the solids are polymorphs and contain 4-stilbazole as the acceptor, while the third solid contains 4-(phenylethynyl)pyridine as the acceptor, and this solid is isostructural with one of the polymorphs. All solids are sustained by I···N halogen bonds, and the least thermal expansion occurs along this direction in all solids. The polymorphs exhibit significant differences in π stacking, and we show that electronically similar face-to-face stacked rings undergo more expansion compared to electronically different stacked rings. Moreover, in the two polymorphs, the directions of moderate expansion and most expansion are reversed, demonstrating how cocrystal polymorphism can affect material properties. 

Thermal expansion (TE) behavior in solid-state materials is influenced by both molecular and supramolecular structure. For solid-state materials assembled through covalent bonds, such as carbon allotropes, solids with higher dimensionality (i.e., diamond) exhibit less TE than solids with lower dimensionality (e.g., fullerene, graphite). Thus, as the dimensionality of the solid increases, the TE decreases. However, an analogous and systematic variation of the dimensionality in solid-state materials assembled through noncovalent bonds with a correlation to TE has not been studied. Here, we designed a series of solids based on dimensional hierarchy to afford materials with zero-dimensional (0D), 1D, and 2D hydrogen-bonded structures. The 2D materials are structural analogues of graphite and covalent-organic frameworks, and we demonstrate that these 2D solids exhibit unique biaxial zero TE with anisotropic and colossal TE along the π-stacked direction (α ∼ 200 MK–1). The overall behavior in the 2D hydrogen-bonded solids is similar to 2D covalent-bonded solids; however, the coefficient of TE along the π-stacked direction for these hydrogen-bonded solids is an order of magnitude higher than in 2D graphite or phosphorus allotropes. The hierarchal materials design strategy and correlation to TE properties described herein can be broadly applied to the design and synthesis of new solid-state materials sustained by covalent or noncovalent bonds with control over solid-state behaviors. 

Pedal motion or static disorder in single-component solids containing imine groups is demonstrated. Unique solid-state behaviors including colossal biaxial positive thermal expansion in one solid and a temperature-dependent phase transition in another are discussed. Imines exhibit torsional flexibility, which differs from the isoelectronic azo and olefin groups and influences solid-state behaviors. 

Control over thermal expansion (TE) behaviors in solid materials is often accomplished by modifying the molecules or intermolecular interactions within the solid. Here, we use a mixed cocrystal approach and incorporate molecules with similar chemical structures, but distinct functionalities. Development of mixed cocrystals is at a nascent stage, and here we describe the first mixed cocrystals sustained by one‐dimensional halogen bonds. Within each mixed cocrystal, the halogen‐bond donor is fixed, while the halogen‐bond acceptor site contains two molecules in a variable ratio. X‐ray diffraction demonstrates isostructurality across the series, and SEM‐EDS shows equal distribution of heavy atoms and similar atomic compositions across all mixed cocrystals. The acceptor molecules differ in their ability to undergo dynamic motion in the solid state. The synthetic equivalents of motion capable and incapable molecules were systematically varied to yield direct tunabililty in TE behavior.

 

Control over thermal expansion (TE) behaviors in solid materials is often accomplished by modifying the molecules or intermolecular interactions within the solid. Here, we use a mixed cocrystal approach and incorporate molecules with similar chemical structures, but distinct functionalities. Development of mixed cocrystals is at a nascent stage, and here we describe the first mixed cocrystals sustained by one‐dimensional halogen bonds. Within each mixed cocrystal, the halogen‐bond donor is fixed, while the halogen‐bond acceptor site contains two molecules in a variable ratio. X‐ray diffraction demonstrates isostructurality across the series, and SEM‐EDS shows equal distribution of heavy atoms and similar atomic compositions across all mixed cocrystals. The acceptor molecules differ in their ability to undergo dynamic motion in the solid state. The synthetic equivalents of motion capable and incapable molecules were systematically varied to yield direct tunabililty in TE behavior.