Growth from Solution, Structure, and Optical Properties of Single-Crystal para-Quaterphenyl Films

Abstract

Samples of single-crystal para-quaterphenyl films up to 8 mm long and 50 μm thick have been obtained for the first time by the solvent‒antisolvent growth method. The films have been grown both on the liquid–air interface and in the solution bulk. The morphology, surface quality, and thickness of crystal films have been investigated by the optical, laser confocal, and atomic force microscopies. The structure of the para-quaterphenyl single crystal at room temperature has been refined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The formation and growth mechanisms of crystal films on the liquid–air interface have been discussed. The opticalabsorption and photoluminescence spectra of the solutions and crystal samples have been investigated.