Fig. 1: Concept and preparation of hybrid flexible crystals.

a Photographs of the rain lily (Zephyranthes grandiflora) and its response to dry/wet conditions. b Chemical structures of the elastic crystals 1‒3. c Photographs of straight and bent crystals of 1–3 recorded under UV light for contrast. d Schematic of the layered structure of the organic polymer-crystal hybrid materials P²//1‒3. Bending occurs when the organic polymer-crystal hybrid materials are placed in a dry or hot environment due to the differential strain that develops at the phase boundaries. e Schematic and optical images of the side and top view of bent P²//1,3 crystals recorded with UV light radiation (RH = 40.1%).