Time-Resolved Photocrystallography

X-ray crystallography has long been the gold standard method for determining the three-dimensional structures of molecular and extended solids. Over the past three decades, crystallography has evolved from a purely static into a dynamic technique, capable of monitoring solid-state processes in real time across timescales ranging from femtoseconds to minutes. Light irradiation is one of the most widely used triggers for initiating solid-state transformations, and recent advances in X-ray and electron sources and detectors, and pulsed laser technologies now allow processes from pseudo steady-states down to femtosecond dynamic events to be followed with high fidelity. As a result, time-resolved photocrystallography has emerged as a powerful tool to address the fundamental challenges in solid-state and photoinduced dynamics.This Research Topic showcases recent advances in time-resolved photocrystallography, spanning advances in technology and methodology through to applications across established and emerging areas of solid-state chemistry and materials science. Over the past decade, improvements in laser and LED sources, coupled with advances in X-ray detector technology, are transforming the reach of time-resolved methods for chemical crystal systems, with light-pump-X-ray-probe experiments now being implemented on laboratory X-ray sources, at synchrotrons and, increasingly, at XFELs. Ultrafast electron diffraction experiments also open fascinating perspectives. We encourage contributions that highlight these technical innovations, as well as submissions that apply these tools to the study of dynamic photoinduced transformations, solid-state structural dynamics, photoinduced isomerisations, photo-driven molecular and materials switches, light-responsive ferroelectrics, and related systems. By bringing methodology development together with materials-focused case studies, this collection aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential of time-resolved photocrystallographic studies, illustrating how the technique can inform the design and discovery of new functional materials. We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:• Dynamic single-crystal X-ray diffraction• Solid-state photoactivation• Studies on solid-state reaction kinetics• Time-resolved crystallography at synchrotron and XFEL sources• Time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography• Time-resolved electron diffraction• Mechanisms of solid-state reactions• Solid-state photocrystallographic studies and complementary techniques Topic editors: Paul Raithby, Lauren E. Hatcher, Eric Collet, Hyotcherl Ihee Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79563/time-resolved-photocrystallography