Porous materials and molecular capsules

Manu Lahtinen's research group focuses on the development of metal-coordinated and supramolecular compounds, varying e.g. from molecular and ionic compounds to polymeric metal-organic porous materials (MOFs). New materials can be applied e.g. in carbon capture, mining wastewater treatment, green hydrogen production and storage, as well as on various metal/ion recovery methods developed for circular economy tehnologies. Chemical synthesis, structural chemistry, spectroscopic and thermoanalytical methods and methods based on supramolecular self-assembly are used in the research.

Table of contents

Research group type
Research group
Core fields of research
Basic natural phenomena and mathematical thinking
Research areas
Functional Molecules and Materials
Chemical Nanoscience
Circular Economy
Faculty
Faculty of Mathematics and Science
Department
Department of Chemistry

Research group description

Current research projects in the group:

  • Hiili - haitasta hyödyksi / Carbon - form harm to benefit  (HiHaCO2)
  • Project period: 2025-2027
  • Organizations: Consortium project; JY (chem, bio-env, IT-faculty), Jamk
  • Funder: , JY and Jamk
  • Porous Metal-organic framework (MOFs) materials in the direct capture of carbon dioxide from the air
    • Project period: 2020-2025, 
    • Organizations: consortium project; VTT, JY and LUT 
    • Funder: Academy of Finland and JY (doctoral program of the department of chemistry), Culture Foundation 
    •  
  • Recovery of xanthates from mine waste waters using MOF adsorbents
    • Project period: 2022-2025
    • Organization: JY 
    • Funder:  
  • Development of biocarbon-based 3D printed electrodes and MOF/biopolymer based ion-exchange membranes in vanadium flow batteries (BitKein)
    • Project period: 2023-2026
    • Organizations: VTT and JY
    • Funder: and JY (Department of Chemistry)
    •  
  • Development of MOF- and carbon-based hydrogen storage materials, and green hydrogen production methods based on anionic ion-exchange resin membranes (HyPER):
    • Project period: 2024-2025 
    • Organizations: VTT and JY 
    • Funder: and JY (Department of Chemistry) 
    •   
  • Development of precious metal recovery methods for LED lamp waste (KRIIT)
    • Project period: 2023-2025 
    • Organization: JY 
    • Funder: and JY (Department of Chemistry) 
  • Production of green hydrogen by water electrolysis using 3D printable MOF-based electrodes
    • Project period: 2023-2027 
    • Organization: JY 
    • Funder:  
  • Photocatalytic production of green hydrogen with MOF-based catalysts
    • Project period: 2022-2026
    • Organization: JY
    • Financer:
  • Recovery of arsenic containing ions from drinking water by MOF/biopolymer hybrid materials
    • Project period: 2021-2025 
    • Organization: JY 
    • Funder: JY (doctoral school program of the Department of Chemistry), Magnus Ehrnrooth Foundation

Other research topics:

  • Supramolecular and metal coordinated cage structures 
  • Weak interactions (e.g. hydrogen and halogen bonds) in molecular and ionic compounds

Research group

External members

Tuuli Luimula

Master thesis worker
Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥, Department of Chemistry

Mette Altti

Master thesis worker
Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥, Department of Chemistry

Eetu Innanen

bachelor student
Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥

Sissi Vesterinen

Bachelor sudent
Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥

Helmi Pirttimaa

Bachelor student
Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥

Paula Sarkkinen

Bachelor student
Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥