Department of Applied Chemistry Laboratories
We would like to introduce the laboratories of Department of Applied Chemistry Faculty of Engineering.
Kenji Ogino Laboratory
We are working day and night on experiments to design and synthesize polymeric materials with special structures at various levels and apply them to various functional materials, primarily organic semiconductor devices, as well as to analyze higher-order structures to elucidate the origins of functional expression and improved device performance.
Taichi Kano Laboratory
We use organic chemistry techniques to synthesize uniquely designed molecules that do not exist in nature. These new substances are expected to have applications as biologically active substances, functional materials, and catalysts with unique properties. We are also developing new reactions as tools to simplify such "manufacturing."
Yoshinao Kumagai Laboratory
For the purpose of developing light-emitting devices that emit light in the deep ultraviolet region and power devices that promote energy conservation, we are growing single crystals of nitrides and oxides, which are wide band gap semiconductors, by gas phase reactions. We are carrying out everything from reaction analysis to evaluating the physical properties of the crystals and developing devices.
Hiroshi Goda Laboratory
Mathematics is applied in many areas of modern science. Our laboratory focuses on geometry, a branch of mathematics, and in particular on knot theory and graph theory. For example, we are researching polynomial invariants and adjacency matrices of graphs derived from molecular models.
Akio Saito Laboratory
Focusing on the fact that iodine is an elemental resource that is abundant in Japan and that organic iodine reagents show similar reactivity to rare transition metals, we are conducting research into the development of new synthetic methods for organic compounds that utilize the catalytic function of organic iodine reagents.
Taku Saito Laboratory
We conduct precise control of higher-order structures to obtain a variety of forms ranging from nm to μm dimensions by crystallizing, stretching, foaming, blending, and treating polymers with supercritical fluids, and we are conducting research into the relationship between higher-order structures and optical, electrical, and mechanical properties, as well as elucidating the mechanisms behind the expression of higher-order structures.
Takeshi Shimomura Laboratory
Aiming to realize molecular electronics, we are creating nanoscale structures such as nanofibers using functional polymers, including conductive polymers, and applying them to soft devices such as transistors and thermoelectric conversion, and verifying their functionality.
Yoichi Tominaga Laboratory
In recent years, solid-state batteries have been attracting attention as an alternative to existing storage batteries that use electrolytes, due to their superior safety, moldability, and light weight. Our laboratory aims to put solid polymer electrolytes into practical use by utilizing carbon dioxide effectively, combining them with functional inorganic materials, and blending them with polymers.
Koji Nakano Laboratory
Aiming to develop high-performance organic materials, we design, synthesize and evaluate new low-molecular and high-polymer materials while focusing on the characteristics of molecular frameworks and elements. We also conduct research into synthesis technologies that support the development of organic materials, such as the development of new reactions and catalysts.
Masafumi Hirano Laboratory
We are researching stereoselective organic synthesis reactions using catalysts consisting of a single metal atom. For example, this catalytic reaction can synthesize biologically active substances used in medicines and π-conjugated substances that are expected to be used in electronic materials in one step or in a short process without generating any waste from the reaction.
Takahiro Muraoka Laboratory
Supramolecular chemistry is the study of constructing molecular assemblies and controlling their functions. Based on the idea that "living organisms are the ultimate molecular assemblies," our laboratory is developing new materials that can control the activity of living organisms, such as proteins and cells, based on organic synthesis and supramolecular chemistry.
Yoshihiko Murakami Laboratory
Aiming to "contribute to medical care through the power of chemistry," we are working on the development of biomaterials (medical materials) that will contribute to next-generation medical care. By skillfully utilizing biopolymers (polysaccharides and proteins) and synthetic polymers, we are developing surgical gels and therapeutic sheets that adhere to the body and release medicine, as well as "ultra-low density" porous particles that deliver medicine deep into the lungs.
Toshiyuki Watanabe Laboratory
With the motto "Change the world with materials," we are conducting research and development of a wide range of materials, including organic and polymeric materials and inorganic materials. The range of applications of our research is diverse, including oxygen reduction catalysts for fuel cells, electrode materials for high-energy density secondary batteries, photoresponsive soft actuators, mechanoluminescent materials, long-life phosphorescent materials, molecular recognition adhesives, and microneedle arrays for regenerative medical engineering.
Etsuro Iwama Laboratory
In order to realize fast and efficient electrochemical reactions (transfer of electrical energy), we are working on the creation of nanomaterials by controlling the arrangement and defects of ions in crystals. We synthesize and evaluate nanomaterials for various applications, such as power storage (batteries, capacitors, etc.), material conversion, and ion resource recovery.
Kanehashi Shinji Laboratory
To realize a sustainable society, the worsening environmental problems on a global scale are urgent issues that must be solved. We aim to create innovative environmentally friendly functional materials that contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by exploring material design, material synthesis, and the expression of functions based on polymer science, functional materials, and environmental science.
Marine Lewis Laboratory
Focusing on the "power of light" and its effects on organic materials, we are conducting research ranging from molecular design to "molecules and materials whose properties change when exposed to light" or "molecules and materials that exhibit unique luminescence effects." Through these studies, we aim to develop innovative functional materials and catalysts.
Marine Louis Laboratory
Kazuyuki Maeda Laboratory
We are conducting research mainly on inorganic-organic hybrid materials with regular microspaces that can selectively separate and store only molecules smaller than the spatial size. We are also focusing on nanosheets with molecular-level thickness to design the structure and physical properties of such inorganic-organic hybrids.
Murakami Takashi Laboratory
We are conducting research and development of materials (nitride semiconductors and alloy semiconductors) that can receive and emit light from the near ultraviolet to near infrared range, which includes the entire visible light range. We are also developing applications for next-generation ultra-low-power power conversion elements, aiming to realize a low-carbon, energy-saving society in the future.
Keiji Mori Laboratory
"Organic synthetic chemistry" is one of the important fundamental technologies that support the manufacturing of daily necessities, but it inevitably produces a large amount of waste as a by-product, which is a problem. We aim to develop a low-environmental-load process based on the transfer of hydrogen atoms that can greatly contribute to the realization of a "sustainable society."
Akiko Okamoto Laboratory
We are attempting to create building block molecules for novel organic structural materials through spatial structure analysis of single molecules and aggregates of molecules with non-coplanar aromatic rings, quantitative evaluation of intra- and intermolecular interactions, and design of organic molecular assemblies.
Yoko Tatewaki Laboratory
In order to create various molecular devices, we are developing functional materials with electrical and magnetic properties. By assembling these materials, we are creating gels, particles, thin films, and crystals, aiming to develop devices that can be applied in a wide range of fields from bio to electronics.
Masashi Morita Laboratory
It is known that nanometer-sized spaces exhibit properties that are completely different from the spaces we live in. In order to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society, our laboratory aims to develop new materials that utilize the nanospaces of inorganic layered materials and porous metal complexes, and to create new functions with applications in the environmental and energy fields in mind.
Eri Hatanaka Laboratory
My research subject is topology, which considers that "all figures that can be transformed continuously are the same." In particular, I focus on 3D manifolds, and approach questions such as "what properties they are classified by" using two tools: branched covering representations and topological invariants.
Im Lee Laboratory
We conduct sociolinguistic research that examines language variation in relation to society. We observe aspects of language from the perspectives of user attributes, usage situations, linguistic behavior, linguistic life, language contact, language change, and linguistic awareness, and learn research methods to specifically grasp how language is used in social life.
Im Lee Laboratory
Lisa Lucas Laboratory
By using methods from mathematical logic to analyze phenomena related to the use of language, we aim to elucidate phenomena that are difficult to grasp using traditional theoretical linguistics methodologies, such as the function of sentence-final particles, the assumptions behind utterances, and intonation.