INTRODUCTION OF LABORATORY

We are developing new materials through the following three different approaches. One is the control of the hierarchical molecular motions in polymers to create new properties and functions. Unlike metals and ceramics, material properties of polymers such as resins and rubbers refiect the hierarchical molecular motions, from the diffusion of entire chains to the rotation of small side chains. Such local motions remain even in the glass state, to have a major effect on e.g., the impact resistance and the gas permeation. Our original strategy is controlling macroscopic properties of materials made of "macro-molecular machines" by designing their unique intramolecular motions. For example, we can synthesize a necklace-like mechanically-interlocked polymer consisting of a polymer chain and threaded cyclic molecules. Because the different components are not bound chemically but constraint topologically each other, the large main chain motions are maintained in the frozen cyclic components. To address the community's demands on new functional materials, novel strategy for new functional materials are highly required. The second approach is materials design inspired by biological system, so-called, biomimetics. Especially, we are developing biomimetic adhesive materials which adopt molecular structure of adhesive protein of the marine fouling organism, such as blue mussel. The third approach is to develop the material designs integrating natural resources. For example, we utilize polyphenol, which contains in persimmon tannin, as raw materials with superior functional monomer because polyphenol exhibits a variety of physiological activity, such as antibacterial or antioxidation.

MASANOBU NAITO & KAZUAKI KATO LAB. research

 

直鎖状高分子と環状分子のネックレス状複合体から作られたプラスチック。

MASANOBU NAITO & KAZUAKI KATO LAB. research

 

ムラサキイガイの接着性タンパク質をモチーフとした接着性高分子材料。

Message

MATERIALS FOR FUTURE, MATERIALS FOR SOCIETY. IT'S OUR IDENTITY, IT'S OUR PRIDE.

When I started my carrier at university, I had unforgettable experience on my work. My project was to develop an antifouling polymer coating against marine fouling organisms, such as blue mussel and barnacle. I soaked a substrate with my polymer coating into an aquarium with living blue mussels. After several hours, it's been a long time coming! I finally fifind the composition ratio of the polymer coating that exhibits excellent antifouling property. This experience became a start point for me to work on fundamental polymer science toward practical application. Now, we are working on biomimetic adhesive materials inspired by adhesive protein of blue mussel. That is exactly "Yesterday's enemy is today's friend". In our group, we are developing the next-generation structural materials based on polymeric and supramolecular materials. The multi-material design is a novel concept on the structural materials to overcome the inherent material performance by adequate combination of different substrates. Among them, polymer is a promising material because polymer can create variety properties by molecular design. Therefore, those who have knowledge on molecular design and insights on physical properties are highly required. Let's create "Wow!" for future with us.

MEMBER

Associate Professor Masanobu Naito

Associate Professor Masanobu Naito

2001 Ph.D. (Eng.), Tokyo Institute of Technology

2001 JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists (PD) (University of California, Irvine, USA)

2002 Assistant Professor, Nara Inst. Science and Technology

2010 Principal investigator, Nara Inst. Science and Technology

2012 Principal researcher, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)

2016 Group Leader, Principal researcher, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)

Lecturer Kazuaki Kato

Lecturer Kazuaki Kato

2004 Ph.D. (Eng.), Osaka University

2004 Researcher of National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

2005 Research fellow of Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Saarland University, Germany)

2007 Project Researcher, The University of Tokyo

2009 Project Assistant Professor, The University of Tokyo

2014 Project Lecturer, The University of Tokyo

Visiting laboratory

  • +81-29-860-4783/+81-4-7136-4062(kashiwa)(naito)
  • +81-4-7136-4062(kato)
  • Masanobu Naito & Kazuaki Kato Lab.,
  • Department Of Advanced Materials Science,
  • Graduate School of Frontier Sciences,
  • The University of Tokyo
  • Kashiwanoha 5-1-5,
  • Kashiwa,Chiba 277-8561, Japan
  • naito.masanobu@nims.go.jp
  • kato@molle.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp