The discovery of complex phenomena in solids has relied upon the creation of stable low-dimensional crystals approaching the atomic scale. While 2D van der Waals (vdW) solids have gained tremendous interest, very little is known about the chemistry and physics of their more confined 1D counterparts. To this end, I will describe our efforts towards elucidating the chemical bonding interactions which define the structure and properties of optically-active crystals comprised of vdW-bound 1D chains. I will conclude by sharing insights on how these phases can be used as building blocks in next-generation devices for quantum, optoelectronic, sensing, and energy technologies.
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