Dynamic Isonicotinohydrazide Single Crystals With Tunable Properties via Mechanochemical Cocrystallization

Multi-stimuli responsive materials with tunable photophysical properties have applications in sensing, data security, displays, molecular actuators, soft robotics, and flexible electronics. We synthesized acylhydrazone derivatives forming crystal hydrates, cocrystal hydrates, and molecular salts that exhibit photoresponsive properties similar to single-component crystals. This represents the first study of multi-component acylhydrazone derivatives showing photoresponsive behavior, a rare phenomenon in multi-component crystals. Crystallographic, computational, and photophysical studies elucidate the structure-property relationships in substituted isonicotinohydrazide and their mechanochemically synthesized multi-component crystals.