Research

The Campillo-Alvarado Lab integrates knowledge of organic-, supramolecular-, reversible- and mechanochemistry, with emphasis on boron, to engineer crystalline materials with functional properties (e.g., conductivity, motion, porosity, photoactivity). The common theme of our research involves the understanding structural changes in molecular crystals upon chemical or physical stimuli (i.e., dynamic crystals). Our research has direct applications in electronics, petrochemistry, pharmaceutics, separation science, solid-state reactivity, and green chemistry.

Flexible single crystal electronics and sensors

The race for flexible and wearable devices and applications demands the fabrication of robust and resilient materials with the capacity to deform and adapt without losing function. Although crystals have been extensively used in the field of electronics, they lack the proven mechanical features of films and polymers. Our group uses bioinspired design rules and artificial molecular machines to design and develop flexible and stimuli-responsive molecular crystals that can be incorporated into flexible electronics and sensors for healthcare applications.

Energy confinement and separation through crystalline molecular sponges

It is estimated that current chemical separations based on heat account for ca. 10-15% of the nation’s total energy consumption. Our goal is to design alternative separation technologies using synthesized sponge-like crystals to facilitate selective molecular recognition and sorting.
 
Key publications:
(1) Campillo-Alvarado, G.; D’mello, K.; S. V. Mariappan, S.; Swenson, D. C.; Höpfl, H.; Morales-Rojas, H.; MacGillivray, L. R., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 5413-5416.
(2) Campillo-Alvarado G.; D’mello, M.; Sinnwell, M.; Höpfl, H.; Morales-Rojas, H.; MacGillivray L. R., Front. Chem. 20197:695. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2019.00695
 (3) Campillo-Alvarado, G.; Vargas-Olvera, E. C.; Höpfl, H.; Herrera-España, A. D.; Sánchez-Guadarrama, O.; Morales-Rojas, H.; MacGillivray, L. R.; Rodríguez-Molina, R.; Farfan, N., Cryst. Growth Des. 2018, 18, 2726-2743

Enhanced pharmaceutics through crystallization technologies

Did you know that more than 80 % of marketed drugs are formulated in solid forms (e.g., tablets)? Even if an outstanding therapeutic is synthesized, it is highly likely that many solid forms can be obtained from it. the Our group uses modern concepts in supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering to improve properties of existing pharmaceutics by controlling its molecular packing in crystals and solids.

Key publications:
(1) Campillo-Alvarado, G.; Keene, E. A.; Swenson, D. C.; MacGillivray, L. R., CrystEngComm, 2020, 22, 3563-3566
(2) Campillo-Alvarado, G.; Didden, T. D.; Oburn, S. M.; Swenson, D. C.; Santhana Mariappan, S. V.; MacGillivray L. R., Cryst. Growth Des. 2018,18, 4416-4419
(3) Campillo-Alvarado, G.; Staudt, C. A.; Bak, M. J.; MacGillivray, L. R., CrystEngComm. 2017, 19, 2983-2986

Funding sources

Our research is supported by the following agencies:

Murdock College Research Program for Natural Sciences Grant and Murdock Start-up Grant
Reed College Start-up Grant