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Time-resolved crystallography

Dynamic crystal structure of a molecular framework

X-ray diffraction analysis typically affords the static 3D structures of given compounds or materials, but to understand chemical processes, the visualization of fast structural changes is desirable. Time-resolved femtosecond crystallography has now been used to monitor the structural dynamics of a photoactive metal–organic framework.

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Fig. 1: Femtosecond serial crystallographic study of a metal organic framework.

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Correspondence to Lauren E. Hatcher or Paul R. Raithby.

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Hatcher, L.E., Raithby, P.R. Dynamic crystal structure of a molecular framework. Nat. Chem. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-024-01514-z

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