| Major Research Areas：Eco-materials, Natural molecules,
Liquid crystals, Nano-composites, Optical materials |
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KANEKO Laboratory
Designing Material for
Global Preservation by
Controlling π-electrons |
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Research activity |
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The greatest challenge for researchers living in the 21st
century is to solve the global environmental problems that are
getting worse along with the development of science. The
solutions of these problems will enable not only sustainable
development of human beings, but also coexistence with other
fauna and flora. Based on this standpoint, our laboratory aims to
develop environment-friendly material using cutting-edge science.
In particular, we focus on aromatic molecules that have a lot of
high-performance π-electrons. Since these molecules are
sometimes extremely poisonous to the environment, we are
developing a technology that will change them into an
environment-friendly material by controlling the structure of the π-
electron molecule hierarchically on the nano- and macro-scales.
1）Development of π-electron Phytomonomer
Useful π-electron material is produced from biological
resources such as plants and microorganisms, and is
compounded into polymers by chemical polymerization. Such
phytomonomers of plant origin are used for producing liquid crystal
material, organic conductive material, optical memory media, etc.
We regard “phyto”-monomers as an organic source material that
can “fight” global environmental problems.
2）Nano-scale Designing of Polymer Chains
Phytomonomers contain abundant polyfunctional molecules
with complex structures, which cannot be synthesized by means of
petrochemical technology. Paul J. Flory, a Nobel Prize-winning US
polymer chemist, theoretically proved that hyperbranched
polymers can be compounded from polyfunctional molecules by
chemical polymerization. A “hyperbranched polymer” has a
molecular chain structure with many branches, which is extremely
sensitive to environmental changes (like leaves on trees), and
provides new functions for materials. The use of hyperbranching is
a powerful innovation for the construction of environment-friendly
molecule structures. We develop high-performance green
materials by means of nano-scale design and organization of
polymer chain structures.
3）Production of High-performance
Environmentally-degradable Polymers
We have succeeded in the production of liquid crystalline highperformance
plastic, one of the hyperbranched polymers, which
can change molecular structure due to ultraviolet light irradiation,
and become biodegradable. This plastic can be used for disposal of home electronic appliances and automobile parts, by projecting
artificial ultraviolet light with a specific wavelength onto them, to
induce a molecular change that creates biodegradable plant
molecules. This is a breakthrough concept for producing the
ultimate environment-friendly material. |
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■Equipment
Rheometer for solid and liquid materials, fluorescence polarization
microscope, mechanics testing instrument for microscopic
observation, vertical and revolving stirring unit, image analysis
application software, diamond ATR device, ultrasonic soldering
device for transparent electrodes, bipolar power supply, and
function generator |
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| Voice |
In 2006, based on the concept of controlling π-electrons produced from natural molecules on the nano-scale, a new
laboratory was established for development of high-performance eco-materials that contribute to global
environmental preservation. Let’s share the pleasure of creating new environment-oriented science! |
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| The main research achievements in the past five years |
| 1: |
T. Kaneko, K. Hamada, M. Q. Chen, M. Akashi,
Soft nanoparticles with projection coronas forms homo-assembled
three-dimensional microconstructs, Adv. Mater. 17, 1638- 1643 (2005).
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| 2: |
Y. Shigekura, Y. M. Chen, H. Furukawa, T. Kaneko,
D. Kaneko, Y. Osada, J. P. Gong, Anisotropic polyion-complex gels
from template polymerization, Adv. Mater. 17, 2695- 2699 (2005). |
| 3: |
T. Kaneko, M. Higashi, M. Matsusaki, T. Akagi,
M. Akashi, Self-assembled soft nanofibrils of amphipathic polypeptides
and their morphological transformation, Chem. Mater. 17, 2484-5486
(2005). |
| 4: |
Y. Shigekura, Y. M. Chen, H. Furukawa, T. Kaneko, D. Kaneko, Y. Osada, J. P. Gong, Anisotropic polyion-complex gels from template polymerization, Adv. Mater. 17,
2695-2699 (2005). |
| 5: |
T. Kaneko, M. Higashi, M. Matsusaki, T. Akagi, M. Akashi, Self-assembled soft nanofibrils of amphipathic polypeptides and their morphological transformation, Chem.
Mater. 17, 2484-5486 (2005). |
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