There are 15 researchers working in the research group (Group's web pages) led by Professor Kyösti Kontturi, of which five are a post-docs forming a solid core, and the rest are postgraduate students. The group is the only research unit in Finland specialising in electrochemistry - the oxidation and reduction phenomena that form or use electrical energy. The most important research targets are membranes and catalysts. Electrical rechargeable batteries, batteries, and fuel cells are one of the core areas of the group.

Nanoscale medical applications, where nanoparticles are used to transport drugs to a specific target, are also among the phenomena being researched. The group holds a patent on a transdermal patch. In this area nanoscaling is problematic as the risks are not yet well known.


Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries coming to electrical and hybrid cars

Researcher Tanja Kallio did her dissertation a few years ago on fuel cells and for a start she concentrated on researching them. In 2009 her interest moved to lithium-ion rechargeable batteries and improving their material, with the aim of finding a solution to change cobolt containing materials to safer and less expensive lithium iron phosphate. This property makes it possible to manufacture lighter, and thus bigger, rechargeable batteries. The research has been done in cooperation with professor Maarit Karppinen's Inorganic Chemistry group.


Small button cell are used for electrochemical testing of the electrode materials.

- These days lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are used widely mainly in cell phones, but the aim is to find a solution to the challenges regarding the material and bring to the market e.g. lithium-ion rechargeable batteries suitable for cars. The development work in electrical and hybrid cars responding to the environmental challenge is fierce, and the demand for lithium-ion rechargeable batteries needed for them is big, says Tanja Kallio. The improvement of the material was done as a cooperation between the physical chemistry research group and European Batteries Oy, a company born of business mergers, Kallio continues.

The company provides the market with safe and reliable lithium-ion rechargeable batteries for different applications. Notable is that the European Batteries is at the moment the only manufacturer of these rechargeable batteries that can provide them for all car makes. Some car manufactures make their own lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, suitable for their particular car make.

Aila Blomberg


Contact information
Lithium-ion batteries
Research Fellow Tanja Kallio
D.Sc. (Tech.), docent
tanja.kallio (at) tkk.fi
Tel. +358 9 4702 2583