Materials for Flexible Devices
The main focus of our research is on investigating the use of novel materials, particularly 2D and metal nanomaterials, sustainable polymers, bioinspired architectures, and the development of micro-nanofabrication techniques to create flexible surfaces with useful functionality.
We are looking at materials that are highly durable and bioinspired, as well as how they might be used in flexible electronics and microsystems.
Our research aims to improve the designs of stretchable gadgets and other industrial products in the future by deepening our understanding of the mechanical principles of bioinspired systems and combining them with sustainable materials and micro-nanofabrication processes.
Areas of expertise
- Materials science
- Bioinspiration and Biomimetics
- Flexible electronics
- Sustainable nanomaterials
- 2D and 1D nanomaterials
Projects
DURATRANS addresses the pressing need for durable and stretchable transparent conductive surfaces in the realm of flexible electronics.
Current materials like ITO and conducting polymers face sustainability and conductivity challenges, while nanowires, though promising, often have limited lifespans and reduced transparency-to-conductivity ratio in films. This project aims to create highly durable, stretchable and transparent conducting surfaces using sustainable polymers, nanowires and bioinspired assembly principles. The proposed transparent conducting surfaces are expected to be groundbreaking in the field of Optogenetics, wearable healthcare devices and next generation flexible electronic devices.
DURATRANS has partners from University of Zagreb, Croatia, Diginnocent S.R.O., Czech Republic and Tampere University, Finland. University of Turku is coordinating the project.
Funded by the Research Council of Finland under the framework of M-ERA.Net (2024-2027)
The FLEX-RPPG project focuses on developing a smartphone and flexible electronics-based remote Photoplethysmography (rPPG) technology for non-contact respiratory rate (RR) estimation.
This innovative project seeks to address the limitations of traditional health monitoring methods by eliminating the need for direct skin contact, offering a crucial solution for neonates, burn victims, and individuals with skin conditions. As part of this effort, the project will also create a public dataset for RR estimation through facial video analysis, filling a significant gap in smartphone and flexible electronics-based health applications.
This collaboration between the University of Turku and the Indian Institute of Technology Indore (IIT Indore) is led by a team of distinguished researchers, including Prof. Vipul Sharma, Prof. Emilia Peltola, Prof. Ashish Ganvir, visiting Prof. Puneet Gupta from IIT Indore, and Prof. Surya Prakash, who bring expertise in material development, flexible electronics, computer vision, and healthcare technologies.
Funded by Ministry of Education International Programme global pilots for 2024 under the framework of Finnish Indian Consortia for Research and Education (FICORE)
This project aims at fabrication of biodegradable, stretchable and flexible electronic devices using unique features present in the biotic architectures as an inspiration.
Funded by Academy of Finland (2020-2023).
The main aim of this project is to develop electronic skins (E-skins) based on biomimetic nanostructured and stretchable surfaces using sustainable and biodegradable materials.
Funded by KONE Foundation (2022-2025).
