Welcome to Flextal lab

Research Focus

In a world of evolving Materials Science, Crystal Engineering & Supramolecular Chemistry stand as cornerstones for exploring functional molecular crystals. Our goal is to uncover the intricate connection between molecular arrangements and mechanical properties, ultimately enabling the engineering of exceptionally durable organic crystals. This pursuit has far-reaching implications, reshaping domains ranging from tabletability, self-healing to cutting-edge functional applications like flexible electronics, energy storage and photonics etc.

Core Research Areas

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Our research delves into elucidating how factors such as crystal packing arrangements, intermolecular interactions, and symmetry influence properties like elasticity, hardness, and fracture behavior. By elucidating the fundamental mechanisms governing the mechanical properties of molecular crystals, our work not only contributes to the fundamental understanding of these systems but also holds promise for informing the design and engineering of novel materials with tailored mechanical characteristics for diverse applications ranging from pharmaceutical formulations to advanced materials science.

We investigate the crystalline forms of pharmaceutical compounds and their impact on drug stability, solubility, and bioavailability. By uncovering how different crystal forms and polymorphs influence drug formulation and performance, our work contributes to the development of more efficacious and stable pharmaceutical products with improved therapeutic outcomes and manufacturability.

We also explore "plastic crystals," molecular crystals characterized by their nearly globular shape and high symmetry, exhibiting three-dimensional plasticity due to dynamic disorder in the molecules. Our approach involves utilizing advanced experimental methods such as X-ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and solid-state NMR spectroscopy, complemented by computational simulations to elucidate the underlying principles dictating the transitions between order and disorder in these crystals.

In our laboratory, we're pioneering the exploration of Autonomous Self-healing Molecular Crystals, a frontier where materials possess the remarkable ability to spontaneously repair structural damage. These groundbreaking materials offer unprecedented opportunities for resilience and durability, heralding a transformative advancement with profound implications for cutting-edge technologies and sustainable applications.
cmreddy
Dr. C Malla Reddy
Professor, Department of Chemistry
IIT Hyderabad, Telangana, India

About the Supervisor

C Malla Reddy did his Ph.D. in Crystal Engineering & Supramolecular Chemistry from the University of Hyderabad in 2006. He was a post-doctoral fellow at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, 2007-2008. Immediately he moved to Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata as an Assistant Professor in Department of Chemical Sciences. In 2014 he has been promoted to Associate Professor, then in 2019 to Professor. After serving for 15 years in IISER Kolkata, he shifted to IIT Hyderabad at the end of 2023. For the Year 2014-2015, he has been awarded with prestigious Swarna Jayanti fellowship by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. He was the associate editor for RSC Advances from 2015-2016. Currently, he is the editor-in-cheif for CrystEngComm (RSC Journal) and the co-editor for Acta Crystallographica Section B.

Recent Research Highlights

Flextal Lab News