Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems

Materials Chemistry of Cellulose

The distinct emphasis of the group led by Prof. Eero Kontturi is set on interfacial phenomena: one of the main lines of research involves observing and manipulating cellulosic materials in confined 2D space by using a surface science approach. Basically, this means performing research on cellulose-based entities on a very flat surface. The impetus for such research is provided by the vast diversity of functional materials that can be manufactured from 2D constructions, such as sensors and optoelectronic devices.

Research themes:

1. Plant cell wall polymers in 2D

Focus is on building morphologically distinct 2-dimensional structures from well-defined cell wall components, such as cellulose nanocrystals or amorphous polysaccharides. The structures can be positioned on a flat, smooth surface to provide means for observing fundamental interactions between plant cell components when confined in 2D space. The results can also be applied to utilizing interfacial phenomena in more realistic materials like plant-based fibres where, for example, adsorbing elements are used to perform certain tasks on the fibre surface.

2. Cellulose-inorganic hybrids: new family of thin films for energy materials

This effort centres around building thin films from cellulose-based and inorganic materials. Electrical and thermal conductivity as well as optical properties of the films are under particular scrutiny and the application targets are therefore set in energy materials, such as thermoelectric devices. Our group’s wide-ranging knowledge on manufacturing various kinds of cellulose and cellulose derivative films are utilized in tuning the desired film properties. This is a consortium with VTT High Performance Fibre Products and an integral collaboration with Inorganic Chemistry group at Aalto.

3. Towards realistic, green, and low-cost production of cellulose nanocrystals

This project aims <strong>at overcoming or circumventing the bottlenecks in cellulose nanocrystal production. Instead of the conventional liquid acid / solid fibre system, a gas/solid system is applied in a custom-built reactor. Various ways of dispersing the nanocrystals from a hydrolyzed fibre matrix are at the centre of this effort. The concept report on the industrial feasibility of the gaseous HCl hydrolysis method can be found here.

Kontturi

Meet the team:

Professor Eero Kontturi, Head of the research team

CONTACT:
Materials Chemistry of Cellulose
Department of Biotechnology and Chemical Technology
Aalto University,  Espoo, Finland

[email protected]

+358503442978

Picture of the members of the group "Materials Chemistry of Cellulose", standing outside on three step concrete stairs in front of an entrance door, which is barely visible. Behind them it can be seen a wall made of bricks. The natural light is beautiful, and the day is quite fresh. The members are generally serious with a relax face, some of them are smiling.

Group members' biographies: PostDocs

Group members' biographies: PhD students

Related content:

Funding for partnership networks in research, development and innovation

The Academy of Finland funding to Aalto University supports the development of nanocellulose-based scaffolds as well as the knowledge base and operating methods of the circular economy.

Vaaleanpunertavia ja läpikuultavia nanoselluloosa- ja agaroosikiteitä laboratoriomaljassa. Kuva Valeria Azovskaya

Eero Kontturi: The most important skill for a researcher is the desire to read and write

Professor of Materials Chemistry of Cellulose relaxes by reading scientific articles and makes no distinction between work and free time.

Eero Kontturi. Kuva: Lasse Lecklin / Aalto-yliopisto

Eero Kontturi appointed Associate Professor in the School of Chemical Engineering

Professor Kontturi’s field of research is Materials Chemistry of Cellulose.

Eero Kontturi. Kuva: Lasse Lecklin / Aalto-yliopisto

Awards and honours for professors of the School of Chemical Engineering

Prof. Orlando Rojas, Prof. Patrick Gane and Prof. Eero Kontturi of the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, have been acknowledged for their significant work.

Former members

Latest publications:

Innovations in hydrogel-based manufacturing: A comprehensive review of direct ink writing technique for biomedical applications

Hossein Baniasadi, Roozbeh Abidnejad, Mahyar Fazeli, Juha Lipponen, Jukka Niskanen, Eero Kontturi, Jukka Seppälä, Orlando J. Rojas 2024 Advances in Colloid and Interface Science

Recycled carbon fiber reinforced composites: Enhancing mechanical properties through co-functionalization of carbon nanotube-bonded microfibrillated cellulose

Mahyar Fazeli, Siddharth Jayaprakash, Hossein Baniasadi, Roozbeh Abidnejad, Juha Lipponen 2024 Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing

Specific ion effects on lignin adsorption and transport through cellulose confinements

Roujin Ghaffari, Vishnu Arumughan, Anette Larsson 2024 Journal of Colloid and Interface Science

Pretreatment to Retrieve Xylose and Xylooligosaccharides by HCl Gas Directly from Biomass

A. Topias Kilpinen, Kaarlo Nieminen, Eero Kontturi 2024 ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering

Adsorption of Polystyrene from Theta Condition on Cellulose and Silica Studied by Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Katri S. Kontturi, Laleh Solhi, Eero Kontturi, Tekla Tammelin 2024 Langmuir

Nucleation and Diffusion-Controlled Growth of FeNi Permalloy Nanoparticles in a Deep Eutectic Solvent Based on Choline Chloride: Kinetic Behavior and Magnetic Property

Tu Le Manh, Jose Alberto Benitez Perez, Pedro Martinez-Ortiz, Anh Hoang Pham, Thuy Linh Phi, Kristoffer Meinander, Eero Kontturi, H’Linh Hmŏk, Hoang Thi Thanh Thuy, Nguyen Van Hieu 2024 Journal of Physical Chemistry C

Dispersing uncharged cellulose nanocrystals through a precipitation surface modification route using oligosaccharides

Megan G. Roberts, Elina Niinivaara, Timo Pääkkönen, Cameron W. King, Eero Kontturi, Emily D. Cranston 2024 Materials Advances

Microwave hydrolysis, as a sustainable approach in the processing of seaweed for protein and nanocellulose management

Anna Trubetskaya, Huy Quang Lê, Jenni Leppiniemi, Tetyana Koso, Teemu Välisalmi, Markus B. Linder, Italo Pisano, Jinze Dou, J. J. Leahy, Eero Kontturi 2024 Algal Research

Lignin beyond the status quo: Recent and emerging composite applications

Mahyar Fazeli, Sritama Mukherjee, Hossein Baniasadi, Roozbeh Abidnejad, Muhammad Mujtaba, Juha Lipponen, Jukka Seppälä, Orlando Rojas Gaona 2023 Green Chemistry
More information on our research in the Aalto research portal.
Research portal
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