The special issue on crystal growth and related characterization is introduced. The articles were originally published in recent regular issues of Acta Crystallographica Section B.

The effect of cation substitutions in the scheelite-type framework is investigated to understand the ordering of M⁺/Pr³⁺ cations and vacancies in the structure. The incommensurately modulated crystal structures of the scheelite-based M_1/8Pr_5/8MoO₄ (M = Li, Na, K) phases were refined from synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data.

High-purity MgO substrate crystals grown by the optical floating zone technique are demonstrated, which can serve as a foundation for the development of novel device concepts based on epitaxially grown thin films.

An emerging cubic substrate material (Nd,Sr)(Al,Ta)O₃ (NSAT) has been structurally and spectroscopically characterized revealing that the nominally cubic NSAT consists of partially developed cubic superstructure domains with doubled unit-cell parameter. The spectroscopic features are consequently broad due to this partial order.

A breakthrough in the first successful single-crystal growth of LiNiO₂ using the floating zone technique is reported. The as-grown single-crystal quality has been thoroughly analysed using laboratory and high-energy X-rays. Superlattice reflections are found, clearly seen using the laboratory diffractometer and resonant elastic X-ray scattering.

It is shown that even 1.25% of molybdenum in tungstate structure leads to significant decrease in X-ray luminescence intensity. On the other hand, 1.25% molybdenum doping shifts photoluminescence emission to longer wavelengths, the shift increasing with Mo concentration increasing to 5%, without decreasing photoluminescence intensity.

Phase transformations and the nature of negative thermal expansion (NTE) was studied at the atomic level using in-situ single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction of Ho,Tm-doped Yb₂Mo₃O₁₂ crystals grown by the flux-melt technique. The thermally enhanced emission was attributed to the material's NTE. The high-temperature luminescence study shows the potential of Yb³⁺, Ho³⁺, Tm³⁺-codoped crystalline systems for developing a highly sensitive ratiometric optical thermometer by exploiting efficient energy transfer.

Using the high-pressure Bridgman method, (Cr, Co, Fe)-co-doped ZnSe optical crystals are grown for the first time, and their physical properties related to the crystal structure are investigated.

A systematic investigation is reported of the structural and magnetic evolution in the CeAlSi_1–xGe_x series, combining X-ray and neutron diffraction with magnetization measurements on polycrystalline samples and single crystals. Chemical substitution leads to a continuous lattice expansion and a suppression of the ferromagnetic ordering temperature without a structural phase transition, revealing a crossover towards antiferromagnetic behaviour and establishing CeAlSi_1–xGe_x as a model system for compositionally tuned magnetism in noncentrosymmetric materials.

In situ X-ray diffraction is used for exploring Si crystallography and for studying phase-transformation mechanisms in elemental Si and Na–Si systems. We present original results of hexagonal silicon, Si-6H and a critical analysis of the past-decade discoveries of silicon Si-4H and Si₂₄ using large-volume high-pressure techniques.

This study offers a comprehensive analysis of facet growth during directional solidification of salol, focusing on the dynamic evolution of the solid–liquid interface. A novel strategy was developed to identify the crystallographic nature of the observed facets, whose growth is mainly governed by two-dimensional nucleation, with deviations attributed to competitive growth processes.

Crystals of flocculosin-A, the major antifungus compound from Anthracocystis flocculosa, are optimised using a cyclic temperature control.

This study offers a comprehensive analysis of facet growth during directional solidification of salol, focusing on the dynamic evolution of the solid–liquid interface. A novel strategy was developed to identify the crystallographic nature of the observed facets, whose growth is mainly governed by two-dimensional nucleation, with deviations attributed to competitive growth processes.

Structural investigations into Maus's salt derivatives reveal great sensitivity toward alkali metal and cocrystallized water content. Magnetic properties of the Maus's salt iron trimer are explored.

CRYSP is a software tool for the construction and visualization of crystal shapes in both natural habits and on planar substrates. It also supports morphologies associated with non-crystallographic point groups.