In this research area, we will develop methods to freely decompose materials by external stimuli, develop materials whose decomposition can be easily controlled, research on the functionalization of these materials by controlling their hierarchical structures, and environmentally friendly methods to control degradation and stabilization of materials. The goal of this research area is to achieve precise control of decomposition, degradation, and stabilization of materials, as well as to establish precise materials science for the development of sustainable materials with freely controllable degradability and stability, which are the ultimate contradictory physical properties of materials.
　Materials focusing on this project include polymers, organics, biomaterials, inorganics, metals, and their composites. For example, (1) method for reusing materials by transforming them into intermediate and substructures as well as atomic and molecular levels through external stimuli, a manufacturing process for materialization based on this method, and the design of sustainable materials whose decomposition products are environmentally friendly; (2) development of materials that combine decomposition functions with control methods for decomposition and degradation at multiple levels, including the molecular level and higher-order structure of materials; (3) development of visualization methods for material decomposition processes using spectroscopic methods, advanced separation methods such as chromatography, diffraction/scattering methods, microscopic methods, and computational science methods, and utilization of materials information through data accumulation; and (4) development of materials that combine the decomposition function with highly efficient self-healing of degraded areas.
　We aim to systematize materials science of decomposition, degradation, and stabilization as a new academic area by understanding it from the molecular level to the macro level in a multilevel manner by fusing the collaboration of various research fields and the knowledge obtained from various materials, in order to develop sustainable materials that are indispensable for the realization of a sustainable recycling society.