Molecular Materials (Molmat)
We use polymers, conjugated polymers, polypeptides, liquid crystals, nanocellulose, metal nanoparticles, dendrimers, virus particles, carbon nanotubes and other carbon-based materials as structural and functional units in supramolecular assemblies. Recently, we have been engaged in bio-mimetic self-assembly with a special emphasis on nacre and silk mimetics.
HYBER
The Molmat group is a part of the HYBER Centre, which was launched as the Academy of Finland´s Centre of Excellence in Molecular Engineering of Biosynthetic Hybrid Materials research (2014-2019), and is led by Professor Ikkala. HYBER aims to use biological concepts for next generation materials science.
Nanomicroscopy Centre (NMC)
Molmat is also a part of the Nanomicroscopy Center administered by Professor Janne Ruokolainen. NMC is a cutting-edge microscopy facility offering us a number of high-resolution imaging and fabrication tools for soft, hard and biomaterial characterization.
Group leader
Professor Olli Ikkala
I head the Molecular Materials laboratory at the Department of Applied Physics of Aalto University in Greater Helsinki and the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Engineering of Biosynthetic Hybrid Materials Research (HYBER) of the Academy of Finland. My research interest is to develop functional materials based on hierarchical self-assemblies, biomimetics, and materials originating from nature, such as nanocellulose. The laboratory is multidisciplinary, combining physics, chemistry, and materials science. I have published nearly 300 articles, including several articles in the Science and Nature family, as well as ca 20 patents, and have been cited nearly 15,000 times (H-index 66). I have twice been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant and twice an Academy Professorship of the Academy of Finland. I am an elected member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters and the Technology Academy of Finland.
Molecular Materials Facilities
The Molecular Materials research group is located in Nanotalo. The building also houses the Nanomicroscopy Center (NMC).
All equipment is available for external users. Contact details of the responsible persons are listed below (Note: Each facility has a different contact person).
- LTL - SQUID Magnetometer (Quantum Design MPMS XL7): Go to Infrabooking
- LTL - Raman spectrometer with AFM (Horiba LabRAM HR and AFM XE-100): Go to Infrabooking
The Aalto University Nanomicroscopy Center (NMC) provides high resolution microscopy to researchers, who come to work and collaborate using this high-quality equipment. The center is accessible to everyone.
Instruments at Nanomicroscopy Center are available for external users. Researchers from universities are trained to use the instruments by themselves.
Collaboration
We collaborate extensively, both internationally and nationally. Our collaborators include:
Companies
- Kemira
- Nokia
- UPM-Kymmene
International research institutes and universities
- CEA/CNRS/Cermav, Grenoble, France (Patrice Rannou, Redouane Borsali and Vincent Forge)
- Politecnico di Milano, Italy ( Pierangelo Metrangolo)
- University of Duisburg-Essen. Germany (Andre Gröschel)
- University of Bayreuth (A. Müller et al.)
- University of Bristol (C. Faul et al.), Max Planck Institute, Golm (H. Schlaad, H. Börner et al.)
- University of Athens (N. Hadjichristidis et al.)
- KTH (L. Berglund, T. Lindström)
- University of Cambridge (U. Steiner et al.)
- University of Fribourg (R. Mezzenga et al.)
- University of Groningen (G. ten Brinke et al.)
- University of Santa Barbara (E. Kramer, G. Fredrickson et al.)
- University of York (D. Smith et al.)
- University of Pennsylvania (V. Percec et al.)
- KAUST (N. Hadjichristidis et al.)
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (H. Iatrou et al.)
- University of Montreal (X.X. Zhu et al.)
National research institutes and universities
- Tampere University of Technology (A. Priimägi)
- University of Helsinki (M. Leskelä and M. Ritala et al., R. Serimaa et al., H. Tenhu et al., A. Urtti et al.)
- VTT Biotechnology (M.Penttilä)
- VTT Printable Electronics and Optics (H. Sandberg et al.)
- Åbo Academy University (R. Österbacka et al.)
- University of Helsinki (J. Hirvonen and L. Bimbo et al.)
- University of Jyväskylä (H. Häkkinen et al., M. Lahtinen et al.)
- Biomedicum, University of Helsinki (J. Klefström et al.).
Research groups within our university
Biotechnology and Chemical Technology (M. Linder, M. Kostiainen, J. Seppälä et al.)
Forest Products Chemistry (O. Rojas, J. Laine, E. Kontturi, M. Österberg)
Chemistry (M. Karppinen, K. Kontturi, C. Johans et al. )
Applied Physics (E. Kauppinen, P. Törmä)
Latest news
School of Science researchers now involved in five Centres of Excellence
SCI researchers are partners in three new Centres of Excellence: Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials, Randomness and structures, and Virtual laboratory for molecular level atmospheric transformations.
Ten new Academy projects awarded to the School of Science
The projects will investigate questions from nuclear fusion, solar energy, bio inspired materials, and many more
Liquid crystal polymer learns to move and grab objects
Researchers trained material the same way as Pavlov trained dogs.
Learning from nature
In his lab, Academy Professor Olli Ikkala is catching up with evolution’s lead in the manufacture of materials. The results of his work may be of crucial significance to an energy-scarce society.Latest publications
In Vivo Toxicological Analysis of the ZnFe2O4@poly(tBGE-alt-PA) Nanocomposite : A Study on Fruit Fly
Hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile nanofibers as interlayers for ultrathin nanofiltration membranes of high permeance and salt rejection
Light-Fueled Nonreciprocal Self-Oscillators for Fluidic Transportation and Coupling
Bright and Switchable Whiteness in Macro-Crosslinked Hydrogels
Switchable hydrogel networks based on natural polysaccharides
Toughening Hydrogels with Fibrillar Connected Double Networks
Emerging Trends in Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles for Biomedical and Environmental Applications
The European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE) research roadmap 2040 : Advanced strategies for exploiting the vast potential of polysaccharides as renewable bioresources
Investigations of Ionic Functional Soft Matter
Propulsion of zwitterionic surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil droplets by low electric fields
Research group members
Contacts
Contact:
Prof. Olli Ikkala
Coordinator Jacquelin De Faveri
Postal address:
Department of Applied Physics
Aalto University School of Science
P.O. Box 15100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
Visiting address:
Nano Building,
Puumiehenkuja 2 A
02150 Espoo
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