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Mark Tuckerman

Mark Tuckerman

Seminar
Tue, Sep. 29, 2020, 4:00pm
Zoom: Registration Required
Host: Annabella Selloni

Register Here

 

Topology, Molecular Simulation and Machine Learning as Routes to Exploring Structure and Phase Behavior in Molecular and Atomic Crystals

Organic molecular crystals frequently exist in multiple forms known as polymorphs.  Structural differences between crystal polymorphs can affect desired properties, such as bioavailability of active pharmaceutical formulations, lethality of pesticides, or electrical conductivity of organic semiconductors.  Crystallization conditions can influence polymorph selection, making an experimentally driven hunt for polymorphs  difficult.  Such efforts are further complicated when polymorphs initially obtained under a particular experimental protocol “disappear” in favor of another polymorph in subsequent repetitions of the experiment.  Consequently, theory and computational can potentially play a vital role in mapping the landscape of crystal polymorphism.  Traditional crystal structure prediction methods face their own challenges, and therefore, new approaches are needed.  In this talk, I will show, by leveraging concepts from mathematics, specifically geometry and topology, and statistical mechanics in combination with techniques of molecular simulation, traditional methods, and machine learning, that a new paradigm in crystal structure prediction may be emerging.  Examples demonstrating prediction of structures of crystals, co-crystals, and phase transitions will be presented.