Polymorphism and luminescence properties of CMONS organic crystals: bulk crystals and nanocrystals confined in gel-glasses

In order to compare the polymorphism of 1-cyano-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethene CMONS crystallized in solutions to that of CMONS nanocrystals grown in the pores of dense sol-gel matrices, we have first studied the CMONS polymorphism in various solvents which were then used in the nanocrystallization processes. The different polymorphs were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and absorption as well as luminescence spectroscopies. The differences observed between CMONS powders and CMONS nanocrystals illustrate the role played by the silicate matrices on the polymorphism of CMONS. This matrix effect would be used to stabilize a particular polymorph of an organic phase and thus to adjust the optical properties of the nanocomposite hybrid organic–inorganic material.