Henrikki Liimatainen

Professor Henrikki Liimatainen is head of the Fiber and Particle Engineering Research Unit (approx. 80 persons) and leads Nanostructured Lignocelluloses Research Team (approx. 25 persons).

His research focuses on nano-scale, functional building blocks derived from nature/biogenic lignocellulose materials using green approaches and fabrication of hierarchical and assembled/hybrid designs with advanced properties –Special interest on novel architectures and functionalities and materials´ (smart & responsive) interaction with surroundings (fluids, gases and EM radiation).

Key research areas include:

i) Green fabrication of hierarchical nanohybrid materials (nanocellulose/lignin combined with organic & polymeric/metal/inorganic/biomedical etc. materials (material chemistry; nanomaterial science; DES)

ii) Addressing the structure and fundamental behavior and characteristics of materials

iii) Applications in green electronics, process and environmental and biomedical fields

Examples of research topics: new nanostructured biomaterials and chemicals derived from lignocelluloses - especially fabrication of nano- and microcelluloses, their 1D, 2D and 3D hybrid structures with inorganics/biomaterials: Filaments, films and barriers, aerogels, filters and membranes, nanopapers, smart and responsive materials, green electronics, biomedical applications and templated structures. Colloidal behaviour of lignocellulosic nanoentities and their use as a novel class of bionanochemicals: adsorbents, flocculation agents, surfactants, emulsifiers. Deep eutectic solvents and periodate oxidation in cellulose modification.