Functional Systems Chemistry Course

Polymer materials such as plastics, rubbers, and fibers are widely used in modern society, ranging from everyday products such as clothing to electronic devices and mobility-related materials including automobiles and aircraft. Further strengthening and functionalization of these polymer materials will generate significant societal value. The performance of polymer materials is determined by their structure and physical properties (molecular dynamics).
In our laboratory, we aim to understand the behavior of polymers across multiple length scales—from the molecular level to single polymer chains and further to polymer aggregates—and to clarify the relationship between structure and properties.
In recent years, as devices have become smaller and more integrated, surfaces and interfaces have begun to play a critical role in determining material performance. Because the environment at surfaces and interfaces differs from that inside bulk materials, the structure and dynamics of polymer chains are altered, strongly influencing adhesion, electrical properties, and mechanical properties.Our laboratory focuses on polymer behavior at surfaces and interfaces and seeks to elucidate these phenomena at the nanoscale. Using state-of-the-art characterization techniques such as sum-frequency generation spectroscopy (SFG), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and synchrotron and neutron scattering, we directly observe the structure and dynamics of polymers. Based on the molecular insights obtained from these studies, we aim to establish design principles for next-generation materials such as high-performance adhesives and advanced polymer composites.