Multicomponent pi-Assembly Figuration

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: pi-System Figuration: Control of Electron and Structural Dynamism for Innovative Functions
• Project/Area Number: 26102010
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Science and Engineering
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: Yagai Shiki 千葉大学, 大学院工学研究院, 教授 (80344969)
• Research Collaborator: YAMAUCHI Mitsuaki ; ARATSU Keisuke ; OUCHI Hayato ; ADHIKARI Bimalendu ; PRABHU Deepak D. ; KITAMOTO Yuichi
• Project Period (FY): 2014-07-10 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 超分子ポリマー / セルフソーティング / 準安定集合体 / 自己組織化 / フォトクロミズム / メカノクロミズム / 水素結合 / 液晶

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, based on two self-assembly motifs, i.e., "stackable nanorings" and "discrete nanorings", we examined the introduction of photoresponsive sites and the mixing of different molecules, and succeeded in constructing various complex self-assembly systems. By collaborating with many researchers in the pi-figuration, we were able to perform structural analyses that were previously inaccesible. Supramolecular polymers obtained by further developing discrete nanorings containing intrinsic curvatures not only have higher order structures reminiscent of proteins, but also are innovative nanomaterials that exhibit external stimulation or spontaneous unfolding/folding phenomena. In the future, further development of this system is expected as unprecedented “topological supramolecular polymers” .

Free Research Field

超分子化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で開発する超分子ポリマーの内部はπ電子に富んでいるため、電子や励起エネルギーなどの輸送経路となる。すでにこれを支持するデータが得られており、今後の研究によって自己修復性・時間発展性・刺激応答性・触媒活性など、生体分子が有するスマートな特性を兼ね備えた革新的「微細電子繊維」が実現する。これらの微細繊維材料は、細胞に類似した組織構造や付随する多様な機能を実現しうるため、エレクトロニクスとバイオテクノロジーの融合による医療分野への応用も現在視野に入れて研究しており、将来広い分野における社会還元が期待できる。