Trapping and Playing with Liquids Inside Crystals

Alessia Bacchi

Professor of Chemistry

Alessia Bacchi is a full Professor of Chemistry at the University of Parma, and she served as the President of the European Crystallographic Association from 2015-2018. She has authored more than 180 publications on international journals, 5 book chapters, and presented more than 150 communications to meetings, including more than 50 invited lectures. Prof. Bacchi’s main research interests are focused on crystal engineering of polymorphs, solvates, co-crystals, and responsive hybrid organic/inorganic materials. Within this broad theme, she developed crystalline molecular materials capable of reversibly capturing and releasing volatile solvents in a solid/gas exchange, as well as proposed structural models to map the process of molecular recognition between the crystalline receptor and the volatile substrate. Recently she has focused on the design and control of crystal forms of molecular compounds and on the stabilization inside crystalline structures (MOF and cocrystals) of liquid and volatile compounds related to human health, environment, and nutrition. Along with scientific production, Prof. Bacchi is actively committed to activities of outreach and divulgation towards schools and the general public, having been involved in the organization of several events and public lectures. In 2015 she established the Museum of Crystallography at the University of Parma, of which she is currently the Director.