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The present paper reports a theoretical investigation based on first-principles density functional theory calculations to predict the external morphology of the tetragonal GdVO4 crystal from its internal structure. The Bravais–Friedel–Donnay–Harker (BFDH) method, attachment energy (AE) method and surface energy (SE) method were used in this study. Slice energies (cohesive, attachment and specific surface) of the three main crystal faces having (110), (101) and (200) orientation and their d hkl thicknesses were computed using CRYSTAL17 code, in the frame of a 2D periodic slab model. The relative growth rate (R hkl ) and the morphological importance (MI hkl ) for each unrelaxed and relaxed (hkl) face of interest were determined. Consequently, the crystal shapes predicted based upon BFDH, AE and SE methods were represented by the Wulff construction. The results of the morphology crystal predictions, based on the above methods, were compared both against each other and against the experimentally observed morphologies. A quite satisfactory agreement between the predicted and observed crystal morphologies is noticed.

Combined experimental and theoretical studies on molecular structure of the betulinic acid solvatomorph of ethanol, 2-butanol and isopropyl alcohol solvents, grown by recrystallization method, are reported. Theoretical investigations, in the frame of DFT, are done using the new method of the betulinic acid solvatomorph molecule extraction from the corresponding molecular crystal, based on typical fragmentation scheme and chemical connectivity. For all electrons, a localized basis set of Gaussian type functions TZVP and local gradient corrected functional BP86 were used. Good correlation was found between the calculated and experimental data. Slight differences in the lattice modes spectral range (0-200 cm-1) from experimental Raman spectra suggest slight differences in the crystalline network and highlight the powerful Raman approach in evidencing BA pseudo-polymorphs or solvatomorphs. Data obtained suggest that incorporated solvents to the solvates generaly induced changes in crystal symmetry, intermolecular arrangements, stoichiometry and hydrogen bonding interactions of the analysed solvatomorphs.