Preparation and crystallographic characterization of crystalline modifications of 3,4:9,10‐perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride at room temperature

Abstract

Abstract 3,4:9,10‐Perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) powder obtained from Sigma‐Aldrich was purified by three cycles of temperature gradient sublimation in an evacuated quartz glass tube providing variable conditions. By means of X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, a crystallographic characterization of the powders obtained during the sublimation process and selected single crystals was carried out evidencing the presence of a major α‐ and a minor β‐PTCDA component in all samples. Lattice parameters of high precision were obtained for α‐PTCDA ( a = 3.73283(4) Å, b = 12.0328(6) Å, c = 17.3998(4) Å, β = 98.689(2)°, V = 772.57(4) Å 3 and d 102 = 3.219(3) Å) by whole‐X‐ray‐powder‐pattern‐fitting of the experimental XRD pattern using the Le Bail approach. Employing a (001) KCl wafer as substrate for the material purification results in formation of single phase α‐PTCDA accompanied by a decrease in the size of the crystallites which is attributed to the presumed lower temperature of the KCl wafers. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)