Aqueous/organic interfacial coordinative crystallization for achieving highly efficient metal–glycine complex crystal growth

Highly packed metal ion–organic complex crystals with superior crystalline properties were efficiently obtained using conventional coordination chemistry in a diffusion-controlled growth procedure. This strategy revolved around an aqueous/organic interfacial coordinative crystallization process in which complex crystal growth proceeded at the interface between an organic and an aqueous phase containing the deprotonated glycine and the transition metal ions (Cu(II) and Ag(I)), respectively. The results confirmed that the crystal structures included coordination complexes of the metal ions and the deprotonated glycine, and a new Ag(I)–glycine coordination structure was identified. The strategy demonstrated here provides an efficient synthetic method by which coordination complex crystals may be grown for use in electronic, optical, and bio-related applications.

► Formation of an interface between the organic and the aqueous phases.
► Crystallization via the interfacial coordinative chemistry.
► Demonstration of a high efficiency method for achieving metal-organic complex crystals.
► Characterizations of complex crystals using various analyses.