Structure-property relationships in the crystals of the smallest amino acid: An incoherent inelastic neutron scattering study of the glycine polymorphs

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Incoherent inelastic neutron scattering spectra for the three crystalline polymorphs (α- P21/n, β- P21, γ- P3 1) of glycine (C2H5NO2) at temperatures between 5 and 300 K (using the time-of-flight (ToF) spectrometer NEAT at HMI) and at pressures from ambient up to 1 GPa (using the ToF spectrometer IN6 at the ILL) were measured. Significant differences in the band positions and their relative intensities in the density of states (DoS) were observed for the three polymorphs, which can be related to the different intermolecular interactions. The mean-squared displacement, 〈u 2〉(T), dependence reveals a change in dynamic properties at about the same temperature (150 K) for all the three forms, which can be related to the reorientation of the NH3 group. Besides, a dynamic transition in β-glycine at about 230-250 K on cooling was also observed, supporting previously obtained adiabatic calorimetry data. This behavior is similar to that already observed in amorphous solids, on approaching the glass transition temperatures, as well as in biological systems. It suggests the onset of degrees of freedom most likely related to transitions between slightly different conformational orientations. The DoS obtained as a function of pressure has confirmed the stability of the α-form with respect to pressure and also depicted a sign of the previously reported reversible β-β′ glycine phase transition in between 0.6 and 0.8 GPa. Moreover, a remarkable kinetic effect in the pressure-induced phase transition in γ-glycine was revealed. After the sample was kept at 0.8 GPa for an hour in the neutron beam, an irreversible transition into a high-pressure form (different from the β′-form) occurred, although previously in X-Ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy experiments a γ- to δ-glycine phase transition was observed above 3.5 GPa only.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftJournal of Physical Chemistry B
Vol/bind112
Udgave nummer29
Sider (fra-til)8748-8759
Antal sider12
ISSN1520-6106
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 24 jul. 2008
Eksternt udgivetJa

ID: 203940124