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Michinobu Lab
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The lab designs and synthesizes polymers that conduct electricity and polymers made from wood.
AboutAbout the lab
Creating new polymers with the power of conjugated electron systems
The Michinobu Lab develops functional polymer materials that make use of the optical and electronic properties of conjugated electron systems.
The lab studies efficient synthesis of semiconducting polymers for organic solar cells and organic transistors.
The lab is also working on making polymers that can be shaped and processed from lignin, a component of woody biomass.
Each student has an independent topic and conducts research through molecular design, synthesis experiments, structural analysis, and evaluation of physical properties.
Key terms
- Organic semiconducting polymers
- Polymers with a carbon backbone that conduct electricity like a semiconductor
- n-type semiconductor
- A semiconductor in which electrons carry the current. One in which holes carry the current is called p-type.
- Lignin
- A component of wood. A natural polymer that makes wood rigid.
NewsLab news
The lab held a graduate school information session for people considering materials-related fields
A student received an Excellence Award at the Bachelor's Thesis Research Presentation
A student received the Best Poster Presentation Award at PESI Conference 2024
A master's student received an Excellent Presentation Award at the Master's Thesis Presentation
A student received the Video Award at the Future Doctoral 3-Minute Competition 2023
ResearchResearch themes
The lab creates functional polymer materials by making use of the optical and electronic properties of conjugated electron systems. Its research rests on two pillars: semiconducting polymers for organic solar cells and organic transistors, and biopolymers made from woody biomass.
*Illustrative imageDevelopment of organic semiconducting polymers
The lab developed thiadiazolobenzotriazole, which combines solubility with a planar main chain, and used it to achieve high electron mobility in organic transistors with n-type semiconducting polymers that conduct electrons. It also fabricates and evaluates solar cells in which both the p-type and n-type materials are polymers.
![Image for Donor-acceptor molecules via [2+2] cycloaddition](/img/a788431b247d0774-800.webp)
*Illustrative imageDonor-acceptor molecules via [2+2] cycloaddition
Reacting an electron-rich alkyne with an electron-poor alkene produces a twisted donor-acceptor skeleton. By using this reaction on the side chains of p-type semiconducting polymers, the lab freely tunes the energy levels and improves the performance of organic solar cells.
*Illustrative imageBiopolymers derived from lignin
To address ocean pollution caused by petroleum-based plastics, the lab makes polymers that can be shaped and processed from lignin, which is contained in wood. Polyesters synthesized from 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid, which is obtained in the process of breaking down lignin, showed excellent thermal and mechanical properties and biodegradability.
MembersFaculty
The Michinobu Lab consists of faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and short-term international students.As of 2026
- ProfessorTsuyoshi MichinobuPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorAtsushi IsobePublications ↗
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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: “1inchpolymersolarcell” Aromaticmoleculessmell / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Development of organic semiconducting polymers: “Luminescent polythiophenes” Aromaticmoleculessmell / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Donor-acceptor molecules via [2+2] cycloaddition: “TCNEpowder” Smokefoot / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Biopolymers derived from lignin: “A waste wood powder” Parvathisri / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (難波江研究室): “Activated Carbon” Ravedave / CC BY 2.5 (cropped)
- Related lab (早川研究室): “The Bird of Happiness” Strugalina / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (北野研究室): “Pipes” Hermann Luyken / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (阿部研究室): “BiodegradablePlasticUtensils1” Scott Bauer / Public domain (cropped)
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