Daisuke Aoki

The development of polymer circulation system based on carbonate linkage

Research Director

Daisuke Aoki

Collaborator

Takehiro Kamiya	Associate Professor Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo
Tatsuo Taniguchi	Professor Graduate School of Engineering Chiba University
Masazumi Tamura	Associate Professor Graduate School of Engineering Osaka Metropolitan University
Mizuhiko Nishida	Professor Graduate school of agricultural science Tohoku University
Shotaro Nishitsuji	Associate Professor Graduate School of Organic Materials Science Yamagata University
Hideto Minami	Professor Graduate School of Engineering Kobe University

Outline

In our research, carbon dioxide is effectively used as a source of polymeric materials by forming polycarbonate where each monomer is connected by carbonate linkage. After the use of polycarbonates, chemical recycling is applied to give fertilizer.

Susumu Saito

Development of upcycling catalysts for highly oxidized chemical compounds

Research Director

Susumu Saito

Collaborator

Mineto Uchiyama	Lecturer Graduate School of Engineering Nagoya University
Toshiki Sugimoto	Associate Professor Institute for Molecular Science National Institutes of Natural Sciences

Outline

Commodity plastics barely destructible/non-biodegradable are the sources of microplastics that already plague our oceans. Carbon dioxide (CO2) produced massively every year and everywhere is also posing significant issues on the way to realizing a carbon-neutral society. Game-changing catalysts are required to chemically transform those highly oxidized or oxygenated compounds (HOCs) which are thermodynamically and kinetically highly stable. We develop novel reductive systems involving H2 and H2O as hydrogen and electron sources for tackling those extremely challenging upcycling transformations of HOCs, where molecularly well elaborated, oligomeric metal complex catalysts, semiconductor photo-catalysts, and metal complex-immobilized electrode catalysts are explored and effectively used under different energy inputs including heat, light, and electricity.

Tsuguyuki Saito

Precise control of the nano-decomposition and reassembly of plant cell walls

Research Director

Tsuguyuki Saito

Collaborator

Kayoko Kobayashi	Assistant Professor Graduate School of Agriculture Kyoto University
Masaya Nogi	Professor SANKEN Osaka University
Shuji Fujisawa	Associate Professor Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo

Outline

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) with excellent mechanical and thermal properties are produced via nano-decomposition of wood cell wall cellulose. In this project, we produce defect-free CNFs through nano-decomposition control of cell walls and further establish a technical platform for tailoring material properties of hierarchical CNF structures/composites through controls of CNF configuration and inter-CNF bonding.

Yoshinori Takashima

Precise Material Science with Dual Degradation Control Techniques

Research Director

Yoshinori Takashima

Collaborator

Yasutomo Uetsuji	Professor Faculty of Engineering Osaka Institute of Technology
Hiroshi Uyama	Professor Graduate School of Engineering Osaka University
Takashi Konishi	Assistant Professor Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies Kyoto University

Outline

The research project aims to establish “dual degradation control techniques” combining “dynamic degradation control of reversible bonds” and “degradation control of covalent bonds”. Based on the “dual degradation control techniques,” the project will establish a scientific theory for the controls of degradation, deterioration, and stabilization. In particular, the project will achieve on-demand degradation through chemical and enzymatic degradation. We will develop the strategies for triple-cross network materials using chemicals from the degradation process and upcycling with the help of composite technology utilizing the on-demand degradation techniques. Finally, the project will achieve “self-healing and stabilization based on reversible bonding” and “degradation control regarding materials recycling”.

Takuya Matsumoto

Design of multi-hierarchical and self-assembled composite materials

Research Director

Takuya Matsumoto

Collaborator

Taiji Adachi	Professor Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences Kyoto University
Takaharu Okajima	Professor Graduate School of Information Science and Technology Hokkaido University
Aira Matsugaki	Associate Professor Graduate School of Engineering Osaka University

Outline

In this research, we regard “bone”, which functions are precisely controlled by decomposition and stabilization, as a structural and functional composite material, and analyze decomposition and stabilization in bone formation and metabolic processes in a cross-hierarchical manner. We aim to learn from creations of the nature and design artificial inorganic/organic composite materials that surpass it. The execution of this research will contribute to the improvement of sustainability and the bioecosystem, such as the development of high-strength and toughness medical materials, high-performance detoxification materials, and environmental purification materials that are superior to those of biological hard tissue.