Bringing crystal structures to reality by three-dimensional printing

Kitson, P. J., Macdonell, A., Tsuda, S., Zang, H., Long, D.-L. and Cronin, L. (2014) Bringing crystal structures to reality by three-dimensional printing. Crystal Growth and Design, 14(6), pp. 2720-2724. (doi: 10.1021/cg5003012)

Abstract

The process of converting structural models derived from single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments into physical models for the purposes of visualization/communication and collaboration by the use of three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques is described. Digital information regarding the relative positioning of atoms in a crystal structure is translated, using a suite of computer programs, into a 3D computer model of a solid form, corresponding to that information which can then be saved in a file format for 3D printing. These files are then used to produce to-scale physical models of the structural information using two different 3D printing methodologies.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kitson, Dr Philip and MacDonell, Mr Andrew and Tsuda, Dr Soichiro and Long, Dr Deliang and Cronin, Professor Lee
• Authors: Kitson, P. J., Macdonell, A., Tsuda, S., Zang, H., Long, D.-L., and Cronin, L.
• Subjects: Q Science > QD Chemistry
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Crystal Growth and Design
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• ISSN: 1528-7483
• ISSN (Online): 1528-7505