LAB LOGA page on LabLog, a review site (not the lab's official page)
Functional Materials Chemistry Lab
Machine-translated · View original
A lab that reveals the structure and properties of polymer materials at the molecular level, starting from interfaces.
AboutAbout the lab
Controlling the structure and properties of polymers at the molecular level
The Functional Materials Chemistry Lab aims to create new functions by understanding and controlling the structure and properties of organic polymer materials at the molecular level.
As materials become smaller and thinner, the structure and properties of their surfaces and interfaces come to differ from those of the interior, so the lab works experimentally on understanding and controlling them.
The lab conducts joint research with companies, research institutes, and universities, and uses large facilities such as synchrotron radiation and neutron sources when necessary.
The lab's website presents it under the name “Tanaka Lab.”
Key terms
- Interface
- The boundary where two substances with different properties meet. Its structure and properties differ from those of the interior of a material
- Organic polymer
- A substance made of small carbon-based molecules linked together into long chains
- Thermal motion
- The constant movement of molecules depending on temperature. For polymers, it refers to how easily the chains move
- Polymer alloy
- A material made by mixing two or more kinds of polymers
NewsLab news
A master's student won an Excellent Poster Presentation Award at JTBPS2026
Research results published in Langmuir
A paper by Chief Professor Tanaka and colleagues published in ACS Macro Letters
A paper by Chief Professor Tanaka and colleagues published in MACROMOLECULES
A paper by Chief Professor Tanaka and colleagues published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society
ResearchResearch themes
The lab's research is based on the idea that if the structure and properties of surfaces and interfaces can be accurately understood and controlled, the functionality of nanoscale organic polymer materials can be enhanced. It conducts experimental research centered on polymer science, physical chemistry, and surface and interface science.
*Illustrative imageDesign and synthesis of polymer interfaces
Aiming to develop materials based on precision molecular technology and polymer synthesis, the lab builds polymer interfaces that contribute to life and green innovation by controlling primary structure. It is also investigating the creation of surface and interface modifiers that use thermodynamic enrichment phenomena.
*Illustrative imageStructure and motion of polymer chains at interfaces
The lab aims to elucidate, at the molecular level, the aggregation state and thermal motion of polymer chains at interfaces between different phases. It studies single amorphous polymers, polymer alloys, and crystalline polymers, and is also interested in creating nanocomposites and understanding adhesion phenomena.
*Illustrative imageAnalysis of the interface between polymers and living systems
The lab analyzes from a physicochemical perspective what happens where synthetic polymers meet living systems such as cells and blood, aiming to build biocontrol systems based on controlling the properties of polymer interfaces. It is also investigating making new green materials from biopolymers such as DNA and natural rubber.
*Illustrative imageAggregation state at organic device interfaces
For organic devices such as organic field-effect transistors and organic thin-film solar cells, the lab aims to clarify how the aggregation state at interfaces and the thermal mobility of molecular chains correlate with the functional characteristics of the devices.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Functional Materials Chemistry Lab consist of faculty, researchers, academic researchers, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, technical staff, and administrative assistants.As of 2026
- Senior ProfessorKeiji Tanaka
- Associate ProfessorYuma Morimitsu
- Assistant ProfessorRika Marui
- ProfessorAtsuomi Shundo
- ProfessorSatoshi Yamamoto
- Assistant ProfessorTateki Abe
VoicesStudent voices
Ratings and reviews reflect the experiences of individual current or former students, not the lab's official views. Whether a lab has reviews, or how many, says nothing about the lab itself.
Students who take part in an interview may receive a thank-you gift worth ¥1,000, regardless of what they say.
Student ratings (0 students)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Student voices answer questions like these
- What's great about this lab?
- What did you learn after joining?
- What's the vibe, and what is the professor like?
- Who is this lab for?
- Where do graduates go?
Your experience can help younger students choose their lab. Your name won't be shown.
Write a lab reviewAnonymous · Your draft is saved if you stopRelatedLabs similar to Functional Materials Chemistry Lab
Artificial Enzyme Chemistry LabFaculty of Engineering, Department of Applied ChemistryDesign and synthesis of enzyme- and antibody-like high-perfo…
Organic Functional Molecular Chemistry LabFaculty of Engineering, Department of Applied ChemistryOrganic synthetic chemistry: design and synthesis of functio…
Yasuda Lab (Institute for Advanced Study)Faculty of Engineering, Department of Applied ChemistryOrganic chemistry that creates new molecules is the cornerst…
Reaction and Property Theory Lab (Institute for Advanced Materials Science)Faculty of Engineering, Department of Applied ChemistryIn recent years, advances in computer performance and algori…The information on this page is compiled by the LabLog team from the lab's public information and interviews. For corrections or removal requests, please contact LabLog, not the lab.
Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Soviet K73-9 film capacitors, 1984 - surface decomposing 05(DXO)” Retired electrician / CC0 (cropped)
- Design and synthesis of polymer interfaces: “Pristine Polymer Surface” Aiym Maksatkyzy / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Structure and motion of polymer chains at interfaces: “Single Polymer Chains AFM” Yurko / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Analysis of the interface between polymers and living systems: “Solid-polymeric-foam” Giovanna Canu, Eva Santini / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Aggregation state at organic device interfaces: “Bilayer-OLED” Myxiao / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (人工酵素化学研究室): “Rubber bung with flask” Nadans. / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (有機機能分子化学研究室): “Organic Chemistry Lab by marthou” Marthou / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (安田研究室
（高等研究院） ): “OLED SUBPIXELS” TECH EDU / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab (反応・物性理論研究室
（先導物質科学研究所） ): “L-menthol-3D-molecular-model-engraved-render-CAS” MolGod Scientific / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
About LabLog
LabLog is a lab review app for students only. Student members at each university interview students in labs and publish what they say. Student voices can only be read by students who sign up with a university email address. Operated by bestiee Inc.
Learn more about LabLog ↗Search engines and AI may reference the basic lab info and rating summaries on this page and the description of LabLog. Student voices are for student members only. Automated collection by programs (scraping, or input to or training of AI) is prohibited under Article 8 of the Terms of Service. If you need data for research or analysis, please contact us.