Graduate School of Science and Technology,Keio University
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Our project integrates research by groups developing organic and inorganic catalysts and material transformations/processes with low environmental burdens (Theme 1) with research by groups working to develop new materials with low environmental burdens (Theme 2), and applies the research findings to develop new molecular nanotechnologies for green innovation.
Through such efforts, our project will significantly contribute to solving the environmental issues that have become a global problem for humankind by developing unprecedented molecular nanotechnologies for green innovation that will serve as a pillar for monozukuri (skillful manufacturing) in terms of science and technology.
In particular, our project focuses on research in the following four areas:
Polysaccharides from renewable agriculture, forest and fisheries resources (e.g., cellulose, xylan, chitin, chitosan) are a promising alternative to non-renewable resources such as petroleum. Because such polysaccharides have a high molecular weight, there is a need to develop methods to transform raw materials into low-molecular weight functional materials with a low environmental burden in order to make use of them.
We aim to develop such new methods using organic and photo catalysts.
Additionally, we will develop new catalysts and reactions to recycle the existing large amounts of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide that are causing environmental pollution.
Aiming to create ideal synthesis methods with low environmental burdens, we will develop uncatalyzed reactions, inorganic solvent reactions, water-based reactions, electrochemical reactions and autocatalyzed reactions, as well as develop autoseparation methods for optically active substances.
Additionally, we will demonstrate through actual synthesis and origination that such reactions and methods are effective for practical synthesis of biologically active substances and functional materials.
Looking at selectoil components often seen in pollutants, we will attempt to create new macromolecular gels that can effectively and properly remove those components as well as investigate how to recycle/reuse those gels.
Additionally, we will create new substance separation devices with low environmental burdens that will be capable of separating organic materials with water rather than organic solvents.
Our efforts will focus on creating new metallic liquid crystals that have a low environmental burden and multiplex functions, with a core emphasis on self-assembling metallic complexes.
Moreover, we will fabricate metal nanoparticles for use as a reaction medium in ionic liquids, which are solvents with a low environmental burden.
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