| Major Research Areas：Colloid Chemistry, Functional
Materials Chemistry, Solid State Property, Chemical Engineering |
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MAENOSONO Laboratory
Nanoparticle Technology:
From synthesis to practical
applications |
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Research activity |
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Green chemistry methodology is used to reduce raw material
consumption, waste, and hazardous substances through
designing environmentally-friendly chemical reactions, and/or by
controlling the higher-order structures of nanomaterials.
Our group fabricates new functional materials based on this
perspective, with a focus on nanoparticles. Our two main research
projects are as follows.
1）Development of functional properties of colloidal
semiconductor nanoparticles via higher-order
structuring
Colloidal semiconductor nanoparticles (quantum dots: QDs) exhibit a strong quantum
confinement effect and, thus, can be considered as “artificial atoms”. Therefore,
the function of a QD ensemble is determined not only by the physicochemical properties
of a single QD, but also by the inter-dot interactions that vary with their higher-order
structure.
We synthesize QDs and their higher-order structures via a
colloid chemical route, and investigate structure-property relations.
Specifically, we aim to clarify inter-dot interactions in the higherorder
structures of Ⅱ-Ⅵ, Ⅲ-Ⅴ, and Ⅳ-Ⅵ semiconductor QDs. In
addition, we hope to create QD solids capable of new functions
based on inter-dot interactions, which are not observed in a single
QD. At the same time, we aspire to develop the practical
applications of QDs, such as LED, solar cell, and photodetector.
2）Application of magnetic nanoparticles to
biotechnology and environmental technology
In general, ferromagnetic materials only have ferromagnetic properties over a
certain critical size. This is due to the disordering of magnetic moments becoming
prominent, which is caused by thermal disturbance (superparamagnetism).
The area density of magnetic storage media increases with each passing year, and
researchers have aimed at the realization of the density of Tbit･in-2. Magnetic
nanoparticles (MNPs) have attracted attention and have been intensively investigated
for this purpose. In magnetic storage media, one of the most important challenges
is the fight against superparamagnetism.
However, the superparamagnetic nanoparticles are very important for medical applications,
such as MRI contrast agents, magnetic immunodiagnostics, magnetic separation,
and magnetic hyperthermia. Our research group concentrates on these applications
of superparamagnetic nanoparticles.
We synthesize MNPs, functionalize their surfaces, and
develop basic techniques for medical and environmental
applications.
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■Equipment
TEM, SEM, AFM, Fluorescence Spectrophotometer, UV-vis, FTIR,
XRD, SQUID, CHN elemental analyzer. |
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| Voice |
Nanoparticles have intermediate properties between atoms (molecules) and bulk crystals. We explore the frontiers
of synthesis, higher-order structuring, and functionalization of nanoparticles. In addition, we aim to develop the
practical applications of nanoparticles in collaboration with industry. |
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| The main research achievements in the past five years |
| 1: |
T. Uematsu, S. Maenosono, and Y. Yamaguchi, Photoinduced
fluorescence enhancement in CdSe/ZnS quantum dot monolayers: Influence of substrate,
Appl. Phys.Lett., 89, 31910 (2006) |
| 2: |
A. Komoto and S. Maenosono, Photoinduced fluorescence intensity
oscillation in a reaction-diffusion cell containing a colloidal quantum dot dispersion,
J. Chem. Phys.,125, 114705 (2006) |
| 3: |
S. Saita and S. Maenosono, FePt nanoparticles with a narrow
composition distribution synthesized via pyrolysis of iron(III) ethoxide and platinum(II)
acetylacetonate,Chem. Mater., 17, 3705-3710 (2005). |
| 4: |
J. Kimura, T. Uematsu, S. Maenosono, and Y. Yamaguchi, Photoinduced
fluorescence enhancement in CdSe/ZnS quantum dot submonolayers sandwiched between
insulating layers: influence of dot proximity, J. Phys. Chem. B, 108, 13258-13264
(2004). |
| 5: |
S. Maenosono, Modeling photoinduced fluorescence enhancement
in semiconductor nanocrystal arrays, Chem. Phys. Lett., 376, 666-670 (2003). |
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