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(Kyosei 18) Molecular Assembly Chemistry Lab
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The lab gathers designed molecules together to create ring and helical shapes.
AboutAbout the lab
Assembling molecules to create one-of-a-kind shapes.
The Molecular Assembly Chemistry Lab synthesizes specially designed organic molecules and makes them assemble into molecular assemblies.
A single molecule can do only a limited number of things, but when thousands or tens of thousands gather, properties and functions arise that individual molecules do not have; supramolecular chemistry deals with this.
Upon joining the lab, students first synthesize a molecule that exists nowhere else in the world, search for the conditions under which it assembles, and confirm the structure using tools such as atomic force microscopy.
The lab has so far reported many supramolecular polymers that curve with a defined curvature, such as rings and helices.
Key terms
- Supramolecular chemistry
- The chemistry of structures formed by the assembly of molecules. The name carries the meaning of something that goes beyond the molecule
- Supramolecular polymer
- A polymer-like assembly in which molecules are linked by non-covalent bonds. It can be broken down and regenerated
- Atomic force microscope
- A microscope that traces a surface with a fine tip to see structures on the nanometer scale. Also called an AFM
NewsLab news
A master's student received the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry Presentation Prize at the 2026 Symposium on Photochemistry
A master's student received an Outstanding Poster Award at the 14th Asian and Oceanian Photochemistry Conference
A master's student received an Excellent Poster Award at the 82nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Society of Microscopy
A paper in J. Am. Chem. Soc. based on research done while a JSPS Research Fellow was in the lab was featured in a university press release
A paper in J. Am. Chem. Soc. based on research a graduate did while enrolled was featured in a university press release
ResearchResearch themes
The lab synthesizes specially designed organic molecules and makes them assemble to create one-of-a-kind molecular assemblies. The molecules it currently handles fall broadly into two types: curved supramolecular polymers and molecules that open and close like scissors.
*Illustrative imageRings and helices
By gradually changing the molecular structure of supramolecular polymers that extend like strings, the lab generated curvature and succeeded for the first time in the world in creating uniform rings. It has since also succeeded in creating helical and wave structures, by way of random structures in which rings are linked one after another.
*Illustrative imageControlling shape through supramolecular copolymerization
Molecules that do not work well on their own can form new shapes when two kinds are mixed. The lab has created a chimera structure in which only the ends of a straight fiber become helical, a helix that grows with two kinds of molecules arranged alternately, and a random structure resembling a mosquito coil.
*Illustrative imageSupramolecular polymers that crystallize spontaneously
A winding supramolecular polymer formed by a certain molecule changes how it assembles if left standing, turning into a harder, crystal-like nanosheet structure. This is polymorphism, a phenomenon in which one molecule takes multiple assembled states, and it also leads to techniques for making organic devices from solution.
*Illustrative imageSupramolecular polymers that change shape with light
Mimicking the property of molecules absorbing light and changing shape (photoisomerization), the lab changes the shape and state of supramolecular polymers. A helix incorporating azobenzene unravels under ultraviolet light, and with diarylethene the lab was able to reversibly switch between helical and random states using light.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Molecular Assembly Chemistry Lab consist of faculty, project researchers, doctoral students, master's students, fourth-year undergraduates, and administrative assistants.As of 2026
- ProfessorShiki Yagai
- Assistant ProfessorHiroki Hanayama
VoicesStudent voices
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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: “Dihydrokavain 3D BS” Mplanine / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Rings and helices: “Benzene-3D-molecular-model-engraved-render-CAS-71-43-2” MolGod Scientific / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Controlling shape through supramolecular copolymerization: “Polymer chain SPT” SPT Paul Topham / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Supramolecular polymers that crystallize spontaneously: “Сrystallization from solvent” Ryabitskii / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Supramolecular polymers that change shape with light: “In ultraviolet light” BogTar201213 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab ((共生7)環境調和有機合成研究室): “Iodine-evaporating” Jurii / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab ((共生13)表面電気化学研究室): “Platinum-crystals” Jurii / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (石井・深川研究室): “AMOLED display microphoto 002 front ( )” Jan Helebrant / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab ((共生16)分子構造解析化学研究室): “Artistic Crystallization, Bottom View” Paolo Infante / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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