Observation of Hydration Structures on Organic Crystal Surfaces by Atomic Force Microscopy and Their Comparison between Polymorphs and between Planes

Abstract

  Understanding of crystallization and crystal growth of organic crystals is essential for promoting the development of techniques for controlling crystallization and morphology. We are investigating the crystal growth mechanism of organic crystals from a viewpoint of hydration structure at an organic crystal surface-solution interface using three-dimensional (3D) force distribution measurement by atomic force microscopy (AFM). In this article, it is revealed that hydration structures of acetaminophen crystals are different between polymorphs and that those of α-glycine crystals are different between crystal planes. Then, the influence of the different hydration structures on crystal growth of polymorph and morphology is discussed.