Control of the crystal structure in the molecular scale is of great importance due to the deep connect between the macroscopic properties and microscopic structures. Our group has developed a large library of organic crystalline materials based on the hydrogen bond interaction between guanidinium (G) cation and organosulfonate (S) anions, which enables a predictable approach to obtain quasi-hexagonal charge assisted hydrogen-bonding frameworks. Because of the extraordinary structural robustness, a diverse range of functional guest molecules can be encapsulated in the GS framework to form a new class of functional inclusion compounds, such as solid state laser dyes and conductive materials. Meanwhile, the size and shape selective effect of the GS frameworks can also provide a new route for chemical separations that are typically difficult to achieve using traditional method.
