title: A metamorphic inorganic framework that can be switched between eight single-crystalline states.
abstract: The design of highly flexible framework materials requires organic linkers, whereas inorganic materials are more robust but inflexible. Here, by using linkable inorganic rings made up of tungsten oxide (P8W48O184) building blocks, we synthesized an inorganic single crystal material that can undergo at least eight different crystal-to-crystal transformations, with gigantic crystal volume contraction and expansion changes ranging from -2,170 to +1,720 Å3with no reduction in crystallinity. Not only does this material undergo the largest single crystal-to-single crystal volume transformation thus far reported (to the best of our knowledge), the system also shows conformational flexibility while maintaining robustness over several cycles in the reversible uptake and release of guest molecules switching the crystal between different metamorphic states. This material combines the robustness of inorganic materials with the flexibility of organic frameworks, thereby challenging the notion that flexible materials with robustness are mutually exclusive.
authors.affiliation: WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
authors.forename: Caihong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
authors.forename: Jamie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gabb
authors.affiliation: WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.affiliation: WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
authors.forename: Ross S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.affiliation: WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
authors.forename: Laia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vilà-Nadal
authors.affiliation: WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
authors.forename: Scott G
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4848-414X
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0744-0135
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glatzel
authors.affiliation: WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0192-6919
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breternitz
authors.affiliation: WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
authors.forename: Duncan H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.affiliation: WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
authors.forename: De-Liang
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Macdonell
authors.affiliation: WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K.
authors.forename: Leroy
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8035-5757
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cronin