Dynamic molecular crystals represent an emerging class of adaptive smart crystalline materials, which have been found to be used as energy-converting materials in recent years. In this perspective, we highlight several excellent examples of dynamic molecular crystals for energy conversion, involving the transformation from light energy into kinetic energy, heat energy into kinetic energy, and mechanical energy into electrical energy. Although significant progress has been made in the field of energy conversion in dynamic molecular crystals, the realization of practical applications poses challenges with precise control over molecular movements and macroscopic dynamic behaviors of molecular crystals, mechanical response speed, mechanical damage, lifetime, etc. Future research efforts should be focused on the establishment of predictive approaches toward dynamic molecular crystals as energy-converting materials with desired dynamic properties such as controllable mechanical deformation, reversible and fast response, efficient energy conversion, low cost, and low-to-none fatigue in operation.
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2025 The Author(s). SusMat published by Sichuan University and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
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