Tell me about yourself:

My name’s Fengyang, currently doing PhD studies at Stockholm University under supervision of Prof. Mika Sipponen, mainly focusing on the valorization of biomass materials. Previously, I did my Master’s degree studies in Finland and my bachelor’s studies in China. 

How did you end up at SU?

Nordic countries are rich in forests, and both the industry and academics are seeking a more sustainable way of utilizing this renewable resource. Therefore, there are many great opportunities in this field. I majored in applied chemistry during my bachelor’s study, then got a chance to exchange to Finland in my third year’s study. That’s where I started to learn about forest-based biomass materials. After finishing my Master’s degree study in Finland, I got a chance to continue doing studies related to biomass materials here at SU. 

What is your position?
I’m a PhD student at MMK, my research interest is mainly focusing on developing multifunctional wood coatings by using fractionated tree bark. It’s like using bark to protect the wood as nature does, but with a redesign that favours certain properties that we would like to achieve.

What do you think makes a good chemistry student?
A good chemistry student should have a good understanding of the fundamentals related to their major, but it’s also quite important to be able to apply this knowledge in the real world. Sometimes what people are doing in the laboratory is quite different from the commercialized products. Being able to bridge them in a way is a good skill to develop during the study. Having a curious mind is also important, as well as working in a team and supporting each other.

A good chemistry student should have a good understanding of the fundamentals related to their major, but it’s also quite important to be able to apply this knowledge in the real world.

What did you learn during your studies that you find valuable today?
I find all of my previous studies important and I’m aware that there’s still a lot more to learn. Basic chemistry knowledge helps me understand the phenomenon that occurred during the experiment, allowing me to give reasonable explanations for it. This connection of fundamental theory with experimental results continues to be important for my studies. A particular challenge of lignocellulosic biomass is its complex composition and reactivity requiring broad knowledge across the different chemistry disciplines.

Why should anyone study chemistry?
Chemistry is everywhere in our life, the polymeric materials that we are using every day come from materials chemistry, and also the industries related to cosmetics, batteries, coatings, etc. In modern society, it’s difficult to survive without chemistry. It helps us solve problems, giving reasonable answers to numerous questions. 

What motivates you in your role/what are your driving forces?
Nordic countries like Sweden and Finland play important roles in forestry. Meanwhile, people are also trying to figure out a more sustainable way of using these valuable resources. Both academia and industry have been working on it for many years, and plenty of start-up companies are focusing on for example novel regenerated cellulose fibres, utilization of the lignin from papermaking and biorefinery industries, etc. I see many opportunities in this field, and numerous interesting works are emerging from it, such as novel textiles, bio-based high-strength adhesives, coatings, bio-based phenolic resins, etc. Overall, there are many opportunities for future career development regardless of whether one chooses to stay in the academia or seek jobs in the industry or research institutes.

I see many opportunities in this field, and numerous interesting works are emerging from it, such as novel textiles, bio-based high-strength adhesives, coatings, bio-based phenolic resins...

In what way do you believe chemistry can help build a more sustainable future?

Since I’m working with biomass materials, I can probably say how chemistry helps me in dealing with these bio-materials. In general, chemistry helps us understand what kind of materials we are working with, what’s special about these materials, and what can we do with them. Chemistry provides us with new routes and processes when working with different materials. For example, we can choose safer solvents, simpler synthesis routes, and use renewable feedstocks like lignocellulosic materials instead of their petroleum counterparts. This transformation from fossil to bio challenges us chemists to achieve a greener chemistry process, then consequently also contribute to the development of a more sustainable future.

Thanks very much Fenyang! And good look with your research. You can read more about the research of the Sipponen group on their research group page

Sipponen research group

Read more about the project Fenyang is working on"Tree bark as a renewable source of wood protection materials for building applications (BarkBuild)"