繊維学部研究紹介_2018_英語版

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40Functional Polymer ScienceThe Modern Alchemist!?Polymer Materials by Molecular DesignDepartment of Chemistry and MaterialsAlthough polymer materials, e.g. fibers, plastics and rubbers are essential in our daily life, their waste causes social problem such as marine pollution and depletion of petroleum resources. Prof. Kohsaka investigates the developments of new polymer materials redesigned from the starting molecules in order to solve these problems. For example, he developed a new polymer material degradable in aqueous media to environment-friendly chemicals, while a sustainable plastic that regenerates the starting materials was created. He also innovated a novel method to prepare polyesters with low energy consumption.Yasuhiro KohsakaAssistant ProfessorDr. Kohsaka received his Ph. D. in Engineering from The Tokyo Institute of Technology in 2011. He worked as an assistant professor in Osaka University, before starting his current carrier at Shinshu University in 2015. He was selected one of the 30 members of ‘Emerging Investigators’ in the world from Polymer Chemistry (RSC).Since polymer chemistry supports chemical industry, we have a chance to discover a new material for practical application. We always enjoy experiments in pure chemistry, while our group has many collaborations with inter-/intra-national companies and research institutes. We innovate a variety of novel materials from plastics for a sustainable society with intelligent materials.Outlook for researchAll students continue their research and studies in master program of our graduate school in order to become researchers/engineers in polymer and organic chemistry. Many students then go to companies in the chemical industry, while some students learn more in our doctoral program.Outlook for students after graduationA polymer prepared from a β-amino acid derivative was a solution under acidic conditions and a low temperature, but become insoluble at higher temperatures. A polymer degradable in aqueous media. The degradation releases phenol phthalein, a starting material of the polymer that can be recognized as a red-colored product.Functional Polymer ScienceDevelopment of Functional Materials inspired by biomineralizationDepartment of Chemistry and MaterialsBiominerals (teeth, bones, seashells, and so on) of living things have very excellent functions despite being constructed in a mild environment at normal temperature and normal pressure. Therefore, learning and imitating the biomineral formation process (biomineralization) is expected to enable the creation of materials with superior functions like biomineral by a process with a small environmental burden. In addition to research on biomineralization, laboratories are also researching soft materials, aiming at materials to be bio-inspired from living organisms. Kazuki MuraiAssistant ProfessorDr. Murai received Ph. D. in Engineering from Nagoya Institute of Technology (2015). He worked as a JSPS research fellowship for young scientist (DC-2) and then as an assistant professor in Tokyo University of Science (2015-2018), before starting his current position at Shinshu University in 2018.The development of science and technology based on the understanding of the structure control technology of materials that follow biological systems is the next generation of environmentally conscious manufacturing processes that exceeds the biomineral and biological tissues which are excellent functional materials in biological systems, and it is considered to contribute to the formation of a safe and secure society of the next generation as a “excellent functional materials”.Outlook for researchThrough research activities, in addition to “theoretical thinking” for science, we have “presentation skills” to accurately convey ideas to people, we are doing “education to nurture people” to understand and polish their own philosophy. After graduation I would like to aim for engineers and researchers active in the would.Outlook for students after graduationSoft matter (hydrogel) in which 95% of the mass consists of H2ONanober structure of the hybrid materials composed of organic and inorganic materials.Synthetic landscape of peptides which are model molecules of proteins.