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Appendix 1

Japan-France Collaborative Research Projects

Project Title Japanese Researcher Position and Institution Abstract of Research Project
French Researcher
1 Development of optically active flexible materials based on molecular assembly-templated chiral hybrid nanostructures
(CPLhelixCNPA)
Hirotaka IHARA Professor, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University This research project is aimed at creating next-generation light-management systems. Molecular assembly-based nanofabrication is applied for molecular ordering of fluorophoric compounds, leading to light-management films exhibiting enhanced circular dichroism (CD) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). The Japanese team applies the chiral molecular tools developed by H. Ihara et al. and R. Oda et al. as chiral templates for intensity enhancement of CPL and tuning of emission bands. The French team is given the responsibility of nano-structural analyses and various spectroscopic evaluations, based on their great experience. Through the collaboration, helical (chiral) nanostructures are diversified and precisely analyzed for achieving the research target and for contributing to sustainable society supported by high-efficiency energy-conversion systems.
Reiko ODA Research Director, Institute of Chemistry and Biology of Membrane and Nano-objects, National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS)
2 Innovative materials from sequence-controlled segments in macromolecules
(Sequence Materials)
Makoto OUCHI Associate Professor, Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University In this project, we precisely introduce “regulated sequences” in macromolecular chains and control aggregation behaviors such as microphase separation and crystallization derived from the controlled sequence to lead to innovative polymeric materials. In particular, the group in Japan precisely synthesizes polymers carrying sequence-controlled segment, whereas that in France reveals effects of the controlled sequence on aggregation behaviors and interactions. The collaboration finally allows creation of innovative materials derived from the sequence factor, and the examples are as follows: polymer materials of high strength and low melt viscosity, light and tough composites, sensor, actuator, gas-barrier membrane, adhesive membrane, etc. Thus, the consortium between the two groups could provide novel concept for polymeric materials with the factor of controlled sequence.
François TOURNILHAC Director of Research, Soft Matter and Chemistry Laboratory, National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS)
3 Molecularly-directed hybrid nanobuilding block self-assembly towards original 2D and 3D mesoscale architectures for catalysis
(MODULE-CAT)
Kazuyuki KURODA Professor, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University This project is to establish a new “molecular technology” that allows for the creation of molecularly-designed functional hybrid materials by bottom-up assembly of siloxane-based nanobuilding blocks. Various building blocks such as polyhedral oligosiloxanes and layered silicates are cross-linked or modified with organic linkers to construct 2D or 3D ordered frameworks. These structured materials will be further functionalized by selective grafting of metal cations and/or small molecules, and the confinement effect on the host-guest interaction and catalytic reactions will be studied. The syntheses will be performed in close cooperation of the French and Japanese teams. The French team will also support structural and catalytic design by computational chemistry. These collaborations will pave the way towards advanced materials, including efficient catalysts (our main target), highly selective membranes, and designed drug carriers.
Michel WONG CHI MAN CNRS Senior Researcher, Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier, Ecole Normale Superieure Chimie Montpellier (ENSCM)
4 Molecular design of biocatalytic 3D nanocarbon architectures for long-lasting glucose fuel cells
(Mocca-Cell)
Yuta NISHINA Associate Professor, Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University This project aims at developing high power enzymatic glucose biofuel cells with enhanced operational lifetime under physiological conditions. Japanese side will design and synthesize electron shuttle molecules with tailored redox potential, which can furthermore be immobilized on nanocarbon electrode materials, such as carbon nanotube and graphene, to prevent its loss in solution. French side will combine enzymes with the carbon materials to prepare bioelectrodes. Finally, obtained bioelectrodes are evaluated by assembling fuel cell device. Through this collaborative research, we will develop a high power glucose biofuel cell that can potentially be implanted in the human body with prolonged lifetime.
Michael Holzinger Researcher, Department of Molecular Chemistry, Joseph Fourier University – Grenoble

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