Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization

Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization

Crystallization is a phase transformation process in which crystals are precipitated from a supersaturated solution or formed from other sources. During crystallization, atoms or molecules arrange themselves into a well-defined, rigid crystal lattice to minimize energy.
Initiating crystallization involves manipulating the concentration of the solute and the temperature of the solution. Since crystal growth occurs when the ratio of concentration and solubility of the solute in the solvent...

Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria

Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria

Recrystallization is a purification technique used to separate impurities from solid compounds. In this technique, no chemical reactions occur. Instead, it exploits physical properties only, specifically, the solubility differences between the desired compound and impurities, either at a single temperature or at different temperatures, and under other selected conditions. The solid-solution equilibrium (solubility equilibrium) of each component in the solution represents a binary phase...

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Structural modification of functionalized carbazoles: from Z' = 1 to Z' = 6.

Acta crystallographica Section B, Structural science, crystal engineering and materials·2026

Same author

Cyclo-Polyproline: Chameleonic All-Peptide Macrocycles With Induced-Fit Host-Guest Recognition.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026

Same author

When Reality Defies Prediction: Polymorphism, Twinning, and Accordion Crystals.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026

Same author

Synthesis, Photophysical and TD-DFT Evaluation of Triphenylphosphonium-Labeled Ru(II) and Ir(III) Luminophores.

Inorganic chemistry·2026

Same author

Energy Upconversion Using Platinum(II)-BPI Photosensitizers.

Inorganic chemistry·2025

Same author

A flexible copper MOF as a carboxylate-specific crystalline sponge for structure solution using X-ray and electron diffraction.

Chemical science·2025

Same journal

Direct impure water electrolysis at industrial scale.

Chemical Society reviews·2026

Same journal

Catalytic valorization of polyolefins: from catalysts and processes to reactors.

Chemical Society reviews·2026

Same journal

Designing stable π-radicals.

Chemical Society reviews·2026

Same journal

Antibacterial drug discovery: challenges and preclinical promises from synthetic small molecules.

Chemical Society reviews·2026

Same journal

Selective carbon-carbon bond cleavage involving alkene moieties.

Chemical Society reviews·2026

Same journal

Circularly polarized luminescence: an easy path from molecules to supramolecular systems and beyond.

Chemical Society reviews·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2025

Optimizing the Growth of Endothiapepsin Crystals for Serial Crystallography Experiments

Optimizing the Growth of Endothiapepsin Crystals for Serial Crystallography Experiments

Published on: February 4, 2021

Advanced crystallisation methods for small organic molecules.

J P Metherall¹, R C Carroll², S J Coles²

¹Newcastle University, Chemistry - School of Natural Environmental Sciences, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK. j.metherall@newcastle.ac.uk.

Chemical Society Reviews

|March 1, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Advanced crystallization techniques are crucial for analyzing small organic molecules using single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). This review explores novel methods like host-guest inclusion and high-throughput crystallization to overcome sample preparation challenges.

More Related Videos

From Constructs to Crystals – Towards Structure Determination of β-barrel Outer Membrane Proteins

From Constructs to Crystals – Towards Structure Determination of β-barrel Outer Membrane Proteins

Published on: July 4, 2016

Automated Protocols for Macromolecular Crystallization at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Automated Protocols for Macromolecular Crystallization at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Published on: January 24, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 8, 2025

Optimizing the Growth of Endothiapepsin Crystals for Serial Crystallography Experiments

Optimizing the Growth of Endothiapepsin Crystals for Serial Crystallography Experiments

Published on: February 4, 2021

From Constructs to Crystals – Towards Structure Determination of β-barrel Outer Membrane Proteins

From Constructs to Crystals – Towards Structure Determination of β-barrel Outer Membrane Proteins

Published on: July 4, 2016

Automated Protocols for Macromolecular Crystallization at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Automated Protocols for Macromolecular Crystallization at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Published on: January 24, 2018

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Crystallography
Organic Chemistry

Background:

Spectroscopic techniques are insufficient for full characterization of molecular materials.
Single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) provides atomic-level structural elucidation, including absolute stereochemistry.
Obtaining high-quality crystals for SCXRD is a major bottleneck in sample preparation.

Purpose of the Study:

To review advanced methods for crystallizing small organic molecules for SCXRD.
To highlight recent developments in crystalline material sample preparation.
To guide researchers in selecting appropriate techniques for analytical challenges.

Main Methods:

Summary of classical crystallization methods.
Inclusion complexation using "crystalline sponges" and tetraaryladamantane chaperones.
High-throughput crystallization using "under-oil" approaches like microbatch and ENaCt.

Main Results:

Detailed review of inclusion complexation and high-throughput crystallization techniques.
Presentation of representative examples for each advanced method.
Discussion of the advantages and limitations of each technique.

Conclusions:

Advanced crystallization methods are essential for overcoming SCXRD sample preparation challenges.
Inclusion complexation and high-throughput methods offer novel solutions for obtaining suitable crystals.
Selection of the appropriate technique depends on the specific analytical requirements.