Rare Earth Chemistry

Rare Earth Chemistry research group at the Ģֱ employs both experimental and computational tools to investigate the magnetic and photonic properties of compounds incorporating rare earth elements (REE), as well as the recovery of REEs from various waste streams. Our research encompasses the department’s three focal areas: Functional Molecules and Materials, Chemical Nanoscience, and Circular Economy.

Table of contents

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

Research group description

Our research utilizes sophisticated inorganic-organometallic air-free synthetic, purification, and characterization techniques that are supplemented with the state-of-the-art computational methods specifically tailored to study the complex electronic structures and structure-property relationships of the synthesized compounds. Over the years, our research interests have ranged from lanthanide-based single molecule magnets to the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from various waste streams, but REEs have always been at the core of our research focus. 

Currently, we are investigating REE-based multifunctional molecular materials that combine magnetic properties with luminescence. This approach not only deepens our understanding of the fundamental physicochemical properties of these systems but can also open new possibilities for practical applications, such as data storage, optical detection of magnetic compounds, and thermometry. Given the increased demand of REEs and their critical role in various modern applications, including wind turbines, electric cars, mobile phones, and medical instruments, we also explore the recovery of REEs from different waste streams using precipitation and solid-phase extraction methods.

Our individual research projects have been funded by the Ģֱ, the Academy of Finland (grants #285855, 315829, 320015, 338733, and 345484), the Magnus Ehrnrooth Foundation, the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, the Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation, and various other private Finnish foundations.

Publications

Publication
2021

Chemical Communications
Kitos, Alexandros A.
Gálico, Diogo A.
Mavragani, Niki
Castañeda, Raúl
Moilanen, Jani O.
Brusso, Jaclyn L.
Murugesu, Muralee
Publication
2020
Available through Open Access

Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers
Lemes, Maykon A.
Mavragani, Niki
Richardson, Paul
Zhang, Yixin
Gabidullin, Bulat
Brusso, Jaclyn L.
Moilanen, Jani O.
Murugesu, Muralee
Publication
2019
Available through Open Access

ACS Central Science
Errulat, Dylan
Marin, Riccardo
Gálico, Diogo A.
Harriman, Katie L. M.
Pialat, Amelie
Gabidullin, Bulat
Iikawa, Fernando
Couto, Odilon D. D.
Moilanen, Jani
Hemmer, Eva
Sigoli, Fernando A.
Murugesu, Muralee
Publication
2019
Available through Open Access

Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry
Kiesilä, Anniina
Moilanen, Jani O.
Kruve, Anneli.
Schalley, Christoph A.
Barran, Perdita
Kalenius, Elina
Publication
2019
Available through Open Access

Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry
Kiesilä, Anniina
Beyeh, Ngong Kodiah
Moilanen, Jani O.
Puttreddy, Rakesh
Götz, Sven
Rissanen, Kari
Barran, Perdita
Lützen, Arne
Kalenius, Elina
Publication
2019
Available through Open Access

Chemistry : A European Journal
Gálico, Diogo A.
Marin, Riccardo
Brunet, Gabriel
Errulat, Dylan
Hemmer, Eva
Sigoli, Fernando A.
Moilanen, Jani
Murugesu, Muralee
Publication
2018
Available through Open Access

Molecules
Soikkeli, Maiju
Horkka, Kaisa
Moilanen, Jani
Timonen, Marjut
Kavakka, Jari
Heikkinen, Sami
Publication
2017
Available through Open Access

Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Kiesilä, Anniina
Kivijärvi, Lauri
Beyeh, Ngong Kodiah
Moilanen, Jani
Groessl, Michael
Rothe, Tatiana
Götz, Sven
Topic, Filip
Rissanen, Kari
Lützen, Arne
Kalenius, Elina
Publication
2017
Available through Open Access

Dalton Transactions
Moilanen, Jani
Mansikkamäki, Akseli
Lahtinen, Manu
Guo, Fu-Sheng
Kalenius, Elina
Layfield, Richard A.
Chibotaru, Liviu F.
Publication
2016
Available through Open Access

Crystal Growth and Design
Portalone, Gustavo
Moilanen, Jani
Tuononen, Heikki
Rissanen, Kari
Publication
2016
Available through Open Access

Angewandte Chemie
Moilanen, Jani
Chilton, Nicholas F.
Day, Benjamin M.
Pugh, Thomas
Layfield, Richard A.
Publication
2015
Available through Open Access

Dalton Transactions
Vasko, Petra
Kinnunen, Virva
Moilanen, Jani
Roemmele, Tracey L.
Boeré, René T.
Konu, Jari
Tuononen, Heikki

Joining our group?

Undergraduate and Graduate Students: We are always looking for motivated students interested in rare earth chemistry, whether on the experimental or computational side of research. If you are interested in joining our group, please contact Asst. Prof. Jani Moilanen to discuss available projects and funding opportunities.

Postdoctoral Fellows and Visiting Scholars: In principle, we welcome postdoctoral fellows and visiting scholars who can provide their own funding at any time. Additionally, we are eager to support (early-career) researchers applying for personal research grants from funding agencies (the Academy of Finland, the European Research Council, etc.), private foundations, and JYU’s internal funding schemes like the JYU Visiting Fellow Programme.

Research group

External members

Sakari Hanki

Undergraduate Student (BSc program)
Ģֱ

Taika Paunonen

Undergraduate Student (BSc program)
Ģֱ

Emmi Korhonen

Undergraduate Student (BSc program)
Ģֱ

Emil Jauhiainen

Undergraduate Student (BSc program)
Ģֱ

Vladyslav Legenkyy

Undergraduate Student (BSc program)
Ģֱ

Pinja Jousinen

Undergraduate Student (BSc program)
Ģֱ

Juho Tirkkonen

Undergraduate Student (BSc program)
Ģֱ

Julius Seelbach

Undergraduate Student (BSc program)
Ģֱ