Väitös (materiaalitekniikka): MSc Alicja Lawrynowicz
MSc Alicja Lawrynowicz esittää väitöskirjansa ”Multifunctional light-responsive textiles and their sustainable development” julkisesti tarkastettavaksi Turun yliopistossa torstaina 18.12.2025 klo 14.00 (Turun yliopisto, Quantum, Auditorio, Vesilinnantie 5, Turku).
Vastaväittäjänä toimii professori Riikka Räisänen (Helsingin yliopisto) ja kustoksena professori Kati Miettunen (Turun yliopisto). Tilaisuus on englanninkielinen. Väitöksen alana on materiaalitekniikka.
Väitöskirja yliopiston julkaisuarkistossa: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-02-0469-3 (kopioi linkki selaimeen).
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Tiivistelmä väitöstutkimuksesta:
Textiles are part of everyday life, yet their potential to improve safety and reduce environmental impact is often overlooked. This dissertation examines how fabrics can respond to light in meaningful ways without the use of electronics, wires or batteries. Such materials can offer additional functions, including self-cleaning abilities and ultraviolet (UV) monitoring.
The first part of the research presents fabrics that change color under UV exposure due to the presence of the photochromic mineral hackmanite. The color shift of this material follows the sensitivity of human skin to ultraviolet radiation. When applied to textiles, the hackmanite-loaded coating allows garments to signal when protective measures against sunburn are recommended. A key achievement of this work is the successful use of this mineral on textiles for the first time through simple and safe coating methods. The color response remained consistent across repeated use, demonstrating strong reliability when compared with commonly used organic photochromic dyes.
The second part examines textiles that can self-clean when exposed to sunlight. By analysing the synthesis conditions of photocatalytic zinc oxide crystals grown directly on fabric surfaces, the study identified parameters that produce coatings capable of blocking nearly all UV radiation while also breaking down common stains such as coffee. Noticeable cleaning effects were observed after only one hour of sunlight, with continued improvement during longer exposure.
The final part reviews more than two hundred studies on light-responsive textiles to assess the benefits commonly reported for these materials. The analysis showed that many experiments relied on intense artificial light that does not reflect everyday indoor or outdoor conditions. As a result, several suggested benefits, such as saving resources or comfort, remain insufficiently tested in real environments. Nevertheless, applications related to health and hygiene, including ultraviolet monitoring and self-disinfecting fabrics, appear particularly promising.
Overall, the findings provide a realistic view of what light-responsive textiles can achieve and highlight further research is needed. The results support the development of textile solutions that are both functional and environmentally responsible.
Vastaväittäjänä toimii professori Riikka Räisänen (Helsingin yliopisto) ja kustoksena professori Kati Miettunen (Turun yliopisto). Tilaisuus on englanninkielinen. Väitöksen alana on materiaalitekniikka.
Väitöskirja yliopiston julkaisuarkistossa: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-02-0469-3 (kopioi linkki selaimeen).
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Tiivistelmä väitöstutkimuksesta:
Textiles are part of everyday life, yet their potential to improve safety and reduce environmental impact is often overlooked. This dissertation examines how fabrics can respond to light in meaningful ways without the use of electronics, wires or batteries. Such materials can offer additional functions, including self-cleaning abilities and ultraviolet (UV) monitoring.
The first part of the research presents fabrics that change color under UV exposure due to the presence of the photochromic mineral hackmanite. The color shift of this material follows the sensitivity of human skin to ultraviolet radiation. When applied to textiles, the hackmanite-loaded coating allows garments to signal when protective measures against sunburn are recommended. A key achievement of this work is the successful use of this mineral on textiles for the first time through simple and safe coating methods. The color response remained consistent across repeated use, demonstrating strong reliability when compared with commonly used organic photochromic dyes.
The second part examines textiles that can self-clean when exposed to sunlight. By analysing the synthesis conditions of photocatalytic zinc oxide crystals grown directly on fabric surfaces, the study identified parameters that produce coatings capable of blocking nearly all UV radiation while also breaking down common stains such as coffee. Noticeable cleaning effects were observed after only one hour of sunlight, with continued improvement during longer exposure.
The final part reviews more than two hundred studies on light-responsive textiles to assess the benefits commonly reported for these materials. The analysis showed that many experiments relied on intense artificial light that does not reflect everyday indoor or outdoor conditions. As a result, several suggested benefits, such as saving resources or comfort, remain insufficiently tested in real environments. Nevertheless, applications related to health and hygiene, including ultraviolet monitoring and self-disinfecting fabrics, appear particularly promising.
Overall, the findings provide a realistic view of what light-responsive textiles can achieve and highlight further research is needed. The results support the development of textile solutions that are both functional and environmentally responsible.
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