Patent ID: 8846969

Claim:
A method for growing a bulk single crystal of a configurationally locked polyene compound with a phenolic electron donor, the compound being represented by the formula (I): wherein n=1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein R1 and R2, being identical or different, are independently chosen from the group consisting of: H (Hydrogen), D (Deutrium), and any perhalogenated, halogenated or non-halogenated aliphatic or aromatic group, wherein at least one carbon atom of the aliphatic or aromatic group is optionally functionalized with at least one of: hydroxy, ether, ester, amino, silyl, and siloxy group, and wherein the method comprises the following steps: predefining at least one of a minimal crystal thickness and a thickness to side length ratio of the crystal; providing the compound solved in a solvent or as a melt; slowly evaporating the solvent or slowly cooling the solution or the melt; and growing the bulk single crystal, said step of growing comprising the sub-steps of: controlling the thickness of the single crystal by controlling at least one of the following growth parameters: supersaturation, cooling rate, evaporation rate, temperature, pressure, amount of the solution, and temperature gradients; and choosing at least one of said growth parameters so that the bulk single crystal grows to the at least one predefined minimal crystal thickness or thickness to side length ratio of the crystal.