Multifunctional Materials Design

Department of Chemistry and Materials Science

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.

MMD webpage main image. GIF image by Aalto University, Giulnara Launonen

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Aalto University campus photo (270921), photo by Anni Kaaria

What if fabrics could listen to their surroundings and help us sense the world in new ways? Discover how this research project explores turning textiles into sensors that capture inaudible vibrations from plants, animals, and the environment.

10.11.2025 News

BEYOND ENTANGLED: A collection of research stories from the Beyond e-Textiles project 2021-2025

Nordic Network on Smart Light-Conversion Textiles Beyond Electric Circuits, 2021-2025 (Nordic Programme for Interdisciplinary Research – NordForsk / ID: 103894)

SCALES in Textiles, booklet title image. Image by Mithila Mohan, Aalto University

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.

Bioinspired film, leek. Photo by Maija Vaara and Mithila Mohan, Aalto University

Hamidreza Daghigh Shirazi reflects on his doctoral journey at Aalto University

21.10.2025 News

Entangled exhibition. Image by Mithila Mohan. Photo by Maija Vaara

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.

Doctoral hat floating above a speaker's podium with a microphone.

Electrochemically-assisted aqueous reduction and its application for surface functionalization (title of the thesis).

21.11.2025 13:00 – 16:00 (UTC +2) Events

Seminar by Professor Minna Hakkarainen (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

4.12.2025 15:00 – 16:00 (UTC +2) Events

Functionalizing regenerated cellulose and bio-based polyamide textile fibers towards active environmental responsivenes (title of the thesis).

5.12.2025 12:00 – 15:00 (UTC +2) Events

Beakers / Photo by Aalto University, Aleksi Poutanen

Multifunctional Materials Design research group (MMD)

Department of Chemistry and Materials Science

MMD research group, 10.09.2025. Photo by Mithila Mohan

Multifunctional Materials Design: research group members

Department of Chemistry and Materials Science

Beyond e-Textiles project (NorTex)

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

AI-yarn project (Bioinnovation)

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

EARMetal project

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

EchoSense project

GreenSense

MMD FinnCERES: Energy

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

MMD FinnCERES: Acoustics

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

ModelCom project

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

MMD PREIN projects (STEIN/PINT)

SUBSTAINABLE project

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

SUPER-WEAR project

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

WEARSENSNANO project

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

Contact information:

Professor Jaana Vapaavuori. Photo by Kristina Vialimaa — 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 firstname.lastname@aalto.fi.

Follow us on social media

YouTube channel of the Multifunctional Materials Design research group (AALTO CHEM).

Latest publications:

Hossein Baniasadi, Roozbeh Abidnejad, Ziba Fathi, Pedro E.S. Silva, Sanandam Bordoloi, Jaana Vapaavuori, Jukka Niskanen, Eero Kontturi, Erlantz Lizundia 2026 Carbon

Neža Koritnik, Andreja Kežar, Luka Kavčič, Magda Tušek Žnidarič, Adrijana Leonardi, Swarnalok De, Maija Pollari, Kristiina Mäkinen, Marjetka Podobnik 2026 Communications Biology

Biwen Li, Petri Murto, Rituparno Chowdhury, Laura Brown, Yutong Han, Giacomo Londi, David Beljonne, Hugo Bronstein, Richard H. Friend 2026 Nature Materials

Lakshmishri Roy, Swarnalok De, Sreemoyee Chakraborty 2026 Artificial Intelligence in Food Science

Bin Zhao, Noora Jäntti, Alexey Khakalo, Ulla Holopainen-Mantila, Wenyang Xu, Jaana Vapaavuori, Orlando J. Rojas, Bruno D. Mattos 2026 Advanced Functional Materials

Yuanmin Zou, Reima Herrala, Tiia-Maria Porkola, Anna Varonen, Benjamin P. Wilson, Mari Lundström 2026 Journal of Power Sources Advances

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

More information on our research in the Aalto research portal.

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Three white, circular lace patterns on a black background, each with a unique geometric design.

Research & Art Published: 10.12.2025

Smart textiles are reshaping our understanding of materials – and interspecies communication

The PAST-A-BOT research project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC), is developing soft, intelligent textiles that could one day function as rescue robots, sound-sensing agricultural fabrics, or assistive clothing. At the same time, the project aims to rethink the way we approach materials research.