Nordic Network on Smart Light-Conversion Textiles Beyond Electric Circuits, 2021-2025 (Nordic Programme for Interdisciplinary Research – NordForsk / ID: 103894)
Multifunctional Materials Design
The Multifunctional Materials Design research group (MMD) led 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.
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Highlights:
More 'Recent news' and 'Related content' in the corresponding sections below.
Conference booklet | SCALES in Textiles - a three-day conference hosted by Aalto University on April 8–10, 2025, bringing together the ArcInTex network and the Beyond e-Textiles project.
Learning, growing, and exploring: a path through doctoral studies at Aalto
Hamidreza Daghigh Shirazi reflects on his doctoral journey at Aalto University
GreenSense: Advancing Health Monitoring with Biodegradable Wearable Sensors
A research-to-business project funded by Business Finland was launched in January 2025. The project will focus on developing innovative wearable pressure and temperature sensors for continuous health monitoring of dementia patients.
Aalto Virtual Exhibitions
Cooperating partners: Aalto University - VIA University College - University of Borås - University of Turku - Iceland University of the Arts
A podcast hosted by Alicja Lawrynowicz and Matteo Iannacchero, in which they discuss the innovative world of smart textiles, uniquely framed by Nordic perspectives. Different guests will show different points of view: from academic research to innovation on a larger scale.
Events
Public defence in Chemistry, M.Sc. (Tech.) Reima Herrala
Electrochemically-assisted aqueous reduction and its application for surface functionalization (title of the thesis).
Seminar 'Designing Polymers for Circularity' by Prof. Minna Hakkarainen
Seminar by Professor Minna Hakkarainen (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
Designs for a Cooler Planet
Aalto University’s biggest annual exhibition showcases interdisciplinary experiments at Marsio, Otakaari 2. Open 5 Sept – 28 Oct 2025.
Events programme – Designs for a Cooler Planet 2025
Attend open seminars, talks, tours, film screenings and workshops.
Designs for a Cooler Planet 2025 exhibition
Aalto University’s biggest annual exhibition presents visionary cross-disciplinary work. Come explore prototypes, experiments and solutions.
Our research focuses and group members
MMD research focuses
Multifunctional Materials Design research group (MMD)
MMD team
Multifunctional Materials Design: research group members
Our current projects:
Beyond e-Textiles project (NorTex)
Nordic network on smart light-conversion textiles beyond electric circuits
AI-yarn project (Bioinnovation)
AI-guided biohybrid assembly platform for e-textiles
EARMetal project
Electrochemically-Assisted Aqueous Reduction of Waste Streams for Metals Recovery and Functional Surfaces
EchoSense project
Ecocentristic Sensing – Pioneering Biomimetic Textile Mediators for Sound Perception Beyond Human Abilities
GreenSense
Smart sensors that detect changes in balance to help older adults stay safe and independent.
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GreenSense enables tracking and analysis of physical movement and balance to predict and prevent falls especially for people with neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s and Dementia. The concept helps reduce risks of injuries and associated costs of treatment / recovery, that have adverse impacts on the quality of life, especially for older adults.
MMD FinnCERES: Energy
MMD projects funded by FinnCERES (theme Energy)
MMD FinnCERES: Acoustics
MMD projects funded by FinnCERES (sub-theme Acoustics)
ModelCom project
Autonomously adapting and communicating modular textiles
MMD PREIN projects (STEIN/PINT)
MMD projects within the PREIN Flagship
Completed projects:
SUBSTAINABLE project
Multifunctional, high performance cellulose-based substrates for photovoltaics and optoelectronics
SUPER-WEAR project
Super-stretchable functionalized materials and fibers for third generation wearable technology
WEARSENSNANO project
Continuous monitoring of hypothermia in elderly people by the novel integrated wearable sensor system based on cellulose hydrogel and metallic nanowires
Contact information:
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 firstname.lastname@aalto.fi.
Follow us on social media
YouTube channel of the Multifunctional Materials Design research group (AALTO CHEM).
Latest publications:
Anne Louise Bang, Delia Dumitrescu, Malene Harsaae, Inger Marie Ladekarl, Hanna Landin, Mika Lastusaari, Alicja Lawrynowicz, Erin Lewis, Zahra Madani, Kati Miettunen, Mithila Mohan, Mikael Nyberg, Lena Kramer Pedersen, Kristian Rödby, Pedro Silva, Maija Vaara, Jaana Vapaavuori, Linda Worbin
2025
Proceedings of Nordes 2025: Relational Design, 6-8 August, Oslo, Norway
Anne Louise Bang, Malene Harsaae, Hanna Landin, Alicja Lawrynowicz, Zahra Madani, Mithila Mohan, Lena Kramer Pedersen, Pedro Silva, Jaana Vapaavuori, Delia Dumitrescu, Inger Marie Ladekarl, Mika Lastusaari, Erin Lewis, Kati Miettunen, Mikael Nyberg, Kristian Rödby, Maija Vaara, Linda Worbin
2025
Hossein Baniasadi, Ziba Fathi, Roozbeh Abidnejad, Pedro E.S. Silva, Sanandam Bordoloi, Jaana Vapaavuori, Jukka Niskanen, Erlantz Lizundia, Eero Kontturi, Juha Lipponen
2025
Carbohydrate Polymers
Hossein Baniasadi, Afsoon Farzan, Maryam Roza Yazdani McCord, Pedro E.S. Silva, Babak Abdi, Zoe Paganelli, Jaana Vapaavuori, Ali Tehrani, Jukka Niskanen
2025
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Swarnalok De
2025
Plant-Microbe Interactions
Yujiao Dong, Hailong Li, Fangxin Zou, Hossein Baniasadi, Tatiana Budtova, Jaana Vapaavuori
2025
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Maryam Esmaeilzadeh, Joice Kaschuk, Hoang M. Nguyen, Emilia Palo, Yazan Al Haj, Jaana Vapaavuori, Kati Miettunen
2025
Frontiers of Materials Science
Sebastian Gorgon, Petri Murto, Daniel G. Congrave, Lujo Matasovic, Andrew D. Bond, Victor Riesgo-Gonzalez, William K. Myers, Hugo Bronstein, Richard H. Friend
2025
Advanced Materials
Sofia Guridi Sotomayor, Fevzihan Basarir, Mijung Cho, An Nguyen, Jaana Vapaavuori, Michael Hummel
2025
2024 International Conference on the Challenges, Opportunities, Innovations and Applications in Electronic Textiles (E-Textiles)
Reima Herrala, Linfan Cui, Bianca Ligt, Bruno Dufau Mattos, Kirsi Yliniemi, Marta Costa Figueiredo, Mari Lundström, Jaana Vapaavuori
2025
Advanced Materials Interfaces
More information on our research in the Aalto research portal.
News
Learning, growing, and exploring: a path through doctoral studies at Aalto
Hamidreza Daghigh Shirazi reflects on his doctoral journey at Aalto University
Researchers invent nano-clouds that can change colour, temperature and outwit heat sensors
Bio-Inspired Metasurfaces Enable Daytime Cooling, Heating, and Thermal Camouflage in a Single Solution
GreenSense: Advancing Health Monitoring with Biodegradable Wearable Sensors
A research-to-business project funded by Business Finland was launched in January 2025. The project will focus on developing innovative wearable pressure and temperature sensors for continuous health monitoring of dementia patients.