Department of Chemistry and Materials Science

Multifunctional Materials Design

The Multifunctional Materials Design research group (MMD) lead by Prof. Jaana Vapaavuori focuses on experimental studies of soft materials, as well as inorganic-organic hybrids. Our ultimate goal is to combine multiple functionalities in the same material through supramolecular chemistry and designing hierarchical structures. We also aim to convert external stimuli into useful responses via photoactuation, photovoltaics and photocatalysis.
MMD webpage main image. GIF image by Aalto University, Giulnara Launonen

Highlights:

More 'Recent news' and 'Related content' in the corresponding sections below.

A black-and-white microscopic images of a highly porous material

A sugar extracted from biowaste can provide a sustainable and more efficient method for sound absorption and thermal insulation

Researchers at Aalto University have discovered a way to convert polysaccharides from biowaste into a material that can outperform glass wool and other commercially used sound absorption materials with similar thickness.

News
Kuvassa pyöreä kangas, joka on kudottu säteittäin ympyrän muotoon. Väreinä valkoinen ja punainen.

Shrinking from the heat

Reactive fabrics respond to changes in temperature

News

Upcoming events

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Events
Beyond e-Textiles, Public lecture (June 7, 2023)

Beyond e-Textiles: public lecture (June 7, 2023)

The 5th iterative workshop of the 'Beyond e-Textiles' project

Events
Entangled exhibition, Beyond e-Textiles project.

Beyond e-Textiles: ENTANGLED

Prototype exhibition of the 'Beyond e-Textiles' project

Events

Our research focuses and group members

Beakers / Photo by Aalto University, Aleksi Poutanen

MMD research focuses

Multifunctional Materials Design research group (MMD)

Department of Chemistry and Materials Science
MMD research group 20220615_2.jpg

MMD team

Multifunctional Materials Design: research group members

Department of Chemistry and Materials Science

Our projects:

Beyond e-Textiles project

Nordic network on smart light-conversion textiles beyond electric circuits

Beyond e-Textiles webpage, main image. Image by Aalto University, Giulnara Launonen, Maija Vaara, Mithila Mohan

AIyarn project (Bioinnovation)

AI-guided biohybrid assembly platform for e-textiles

AIyarn project main image. Photo by Aalto University / Matteo Iannacchero, Maija Vaara

EARMetal project

Electrochemically-Assisted Aqueous Reduction of Waste Streams for Metals Recovery and Functional Surfaces

EARMetal webpage, main image. Photo by Aalto University, Maija Vaara, Mithila Mohan

MMD FinnCERES: Energy

MMD projects funded by FinnCERES (theme Energy)

MMD FinnCERES projects main image. Photo by Aalto University / Mithila Mohan, Maija Vaara

MMD FinnCERES: Acoustics

MMD projects funded by FinnCERES (sub-theme Acoustics)

Measurement of how sound waves bend towards the absorption material. Photo by Aalto University, Tapio Lokki

ModelCom project

Autonomously adapting and communicating modular textiles

ModelCom webpage, main image, nylon yarn helix. Photo by Aalto University, Maija Vaara

SUBSTAINABLE project

Multifunctional, high performance cellulose-based substrates for photovoltaics and optoelectronics

SUBSTAINABLE webpage, main image. Photo by Aalto University, Maija Vaara, Mithila Mohan

SUPER-WEAR project

Super-stretchable functionalized materials and fibers for third generation wearable technology

SUPER-WEAR webpage, main image. Photo by Aalto University, Maija Vaara, Mithila Mohan

WEARSENSNANO project

Continuous monitoring of hypothermia in elderly people by the novel integrated wearable sensor system based on cellulose hydrogel and metallic nanowires

WEARSENSNANO webpage, main image. Photo by Aalto University, Maija Vaara, Mithila Mohan

 

Contact information:

Professor Jaana Vapaavuori
Professor Jaana Vapaavuori

We are a group that embraces cross-disciplinary research and co-creative approaches. If you are interested in our projects or to join the group, please contact Prof. Vapaavuori by e-mail.

Mailing address: Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 AALTO, Finland

Visiting address: Office B209b, Kemistintie 1 (Chemistry building), 02150 Espoo, Finland

Lobby service in the Chemistry building: 
+358 50 384 1658

You can approach us by sending an e-mail to [email protected]

Follow us on social media

Latest publications:

Silver Nanowire-based Capacitive Type Pressure and Strain Sensors for Human Motion Monitoring

Fevzihan Basarir, Hamidreza Daghigh Shirazi, Zahra Madani, Jaana Vapaavuori 2023 Nanowires

Acoustic Properties of Aerogels: Current Status and Prospects

Tatiana Budtova, Tapio Lokki, Sadeq Malakooti, Ameya Rege, Hongbing Lu, Barbara Milow, Jaana Vapaavuori, Stephanie Vivod 2023 Advanced Engineering Materials

Recent developments of electrodeposition-redox replacement in metal recovery and functional materials: A review

Linfan Cui, Kirsi Yliniemi, Jaana Vapaavuori, Mari Lundström 2023 Chemical Engineering Journal

Potato virus A particles – A versatile material for self-assembled nanopatterned surfaces

Swarnalok De, Hoang M. Nguyen, Ville Liljeström, Kristiina Mäkinen, Mauri Kostiainen, Jaana Vapaavuori 2023 Virology

In-situ Monitoring of Photocontrollable Wrinkle Erasure in Azobenzene-based Supramolecular Systems

Yujiao Dong, Pedro E.S. Silva, Jaakko V.I. Timonen, Jaana Vapaavuori 2023 ChemPhysChem

Controlling the Self-Assembly of Hierarchical PS-b-P4VP Structures Prepared by Dip-Coating and Emulsion Breath Figure Techniques

Hoang M. Nguyen, Ariane Mader, Swarnalok De, Fevzihan Basarir, Jaana Vapaavuori 2023 ChemistrySelect

Active Textile Fabrics from Weaving Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Filaments

Pedro E.S. Silva, Xueyan Lin, Maija Vaara, Mithila Mohan, Jaana Vapaavuori, Eugene M. Terentjev 2023 Advanced Materials

Maximizing sound absorption, thermal insulation, and mechanical strength of anisotropic pectin cryogels

Fangxin Zou, Jose Cucharero, Yujiao Dong, Pinja Kangas, Ya Zhu, Janne Kaskirinne, Girish C. Tewari, Tuomas Hänninen, Tapio Lokki, Hailong Li, Jaana Vapaavuori 2023 Chemical Engineering Journal

Biowaste-derived electrode and electrolyte materials for flexible supercapacitors

Yazan Al Haj, Seyedabolfazl Mousavihashemi, Daria Robertson, Maryam Borghei, Timo Pääkkönen, Orlando J. Rojas, Eero Kontturi, Tanja Kallio, Jaana Vapaavuori 2022 Chemical Engineering Journal

Perspective about Cellulose-Based Pressure and Strain Sensors for Human Motion Detection

Fevzihan Basarir, Joice Jaqueline Kaschuk, Jaana Vapaavuori 2022 Biosensors
More information on our research in the Research database.
Research database

News

A black-and-white microscopic images of a highly porous material
Cooperation, Research & Art Published:

A sugar extracted from biowaste can provide a sustainable and more efficient method for sound absorption and thermal insulation

Researchers at Aalto University have discovered a way to convert polysaccharides from biowaste into a material that can outperform glass wool and other commercially used sound absorption materials with similar thickness.
Maarit Karppinen
Research & Art Published:

Significant funding for thin-film technology research - materials to be developed can be used, for example, in energy storage

The search for new, precisely tailored thin-film materials is accelerating for a wide range of next-generation applications in fields such as energy storage and IoT.
Image and photo by Aalto University, Giulnara Launonen. MMD logo by Aalto University, Mithila Mohan
Research & Art Published:

Multifunctional Materials Design: Highlights of 2022

Our group's milestones of the previous year
50 shades of red cabbage. Photo by Aalto University, Rainer Paananen
Research & Art Published:

MMD CHEMARTS projects in 2022

CHEMARTS projects by members of the Multifunctional Materials Design research group in 2022

Past events

MMD Colloquium 2022 main image

MMD Colloquium 2022: Wearables Technology

Multifunctional Materials Design: a series of online lectures by invited guests

Events
FinnCERES Scientific Seminar 2022

FinnCERES Scientific Seminar 2022: Back to Fundamentals - Fibre, Water & Interactions

The FinnCERES Scientific Seminar 2022 Back to Fundamentals - Fibre, Water & Interactions will explore the full potential of bio-based raw materials. This year we will focus on how to fully harness the inherent properties of all the lignocellulosic fractions to develop new bio-based and bio-inspired materials.

Events
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