Petri Pihko

Petri Pihko is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Faculty of Mathematics and Science, University of Jyväskylä. He leads the active research group Pihko Group: Making Molecules, focusing on synthetic organic chemistry, catalysis, and mechanistic studies.

His research interests span synthetic methodology, organocatalysis, total synthesis of natural products, and the development of redox-active molecules for sustainable aqueous organic flow batteries. The group emphasizes both the practical application of new synthetic tools and the mechanistic understanding of chemical transformations.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in dual research tracks: (1) development of novel catalytic methods and mechanistic insights in organic synthesis, and (2) design and evaluation of new electrolyte materials for next-generation energy storage systems, particularly flow batteries. This interdisciplinary approach bridges traditional organic chemistry with materials and energy science.

Pihko has secured significant funding from the Academy of Finland, the Research Council of Finland (EXATH and INBAT projects), and the European Union (NextGenerationEU via FlowXAI project). He collaborates extensively with computational chemists (Prof. Imre Pápai, Prof. Kari Laasonen), structural chemists (Prof. Kari Rissanen), and electrochemists (Prof. Pekka Peljo).

His research group includes several doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, indicating active mentoring. Key members are Veera Bruce, Aino Rolig, Anton Nechaev, Sanna Stenfors, and Eeki Tarkkonen.