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Nakajima Lab
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A lab that designs catalysts to create unprecedented reactions and materials.
AboutAbout the lab
From catalyst design to new materials.
Nakajima Lab designs catalysts based on metal complexes and develops new reactions.
Catalysts are a fundamental technology for making things, and developing a new catalytic reaction can sometimes lead directly to the development of a new material.
The lab works on catalysts based on inexpensive base metals such as iron and cobalt, and on catalysts for the precise synthesis of compounds containing silicon and phosphorus.
Through collaboration with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and companies, the lab also works toward the practical application of the catalysts it develops.
Key terms
- Base metal
- Inexpensive metals abundant in the Earth's crust, such as iron, cobalt, and nickel. The term contrasts with noble metals such as platinum.
- Ligand
- A molecule that binds around a metal to form a complex. It determines the reactivity of the metal.
- Periodic mesoporous organosilica
- A material that combines organic compounds and silica, in which small pores are arranged regularly.
NewsLab news
An undergraduate student received the Sakurakakai Award at the graduation thesis presentation
Prof. Nakajima received the Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Japan Award (Technology)
An Assistant Professor received the 41st Inoue Research Award for Young Scientists
Press release on research producing phosphorus chemicals from incinerated sewage sludge ash
Press release on manufacturing a new rubber material with excellent stretch durability
ResearchResearch themes
By precisely designing a variety of catalysts and developing unprecedented reactions, the lab aims to go further and develop new materials that make use of them. Through collaboration with AIST and companies, it also works toward the practical application of the catalysts it develops.
*Illustrative imageComplex catalysts using base metals
Most catalysts used in today's chemical industry are expensive noble metals such as platinum and palladium. The lab designs ligands that make inexpensive iron, cobalt, and nickel work as catalysts, and explores new reactivity unique to base metals.
*Illustrative imageSynthesis of molecules containing silicon and phosphorus
Compounds containing heavy elements such as silicon and phosphorus are familiar high-performance materials, but precise catalytic synthesis methods for them are still under development. Targeting silicones and silane coupling agents, the lab develops catalysts that make previously difficult syntheses possible.
*Illustrative imageSilica materials with regularly arranged pores
Building on its strength in making silicon compounds that were difficult to synthesize, the lab works on periodic mesoporous organosilica, an organic-inorganic hybrid material. When used as a catalyst support, it yields a catalyst that combines a reusable solid catalyst with a designable reaction environment.
MembersFaculty
The members of Nakajima Lab consist of faculty, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and research students.As of 2026
- ProfessorYumiko NakajimaPublications ↗
- Project Assistant ProfessorIkko TakahashiPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorYoshihito KayakiPublications ↗
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: “Dichloro(1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane)nickel complex ball” Jynto (more from this user) / CC0 (cropped)
- Complex catalysts using base metals: “Coloured-transition-metal-solutions” Benjah-bmm27 / Public domain (cropped)
- Synthesis of molecules containing silicon and phosphorus: “Silicone-3D-vdW” 作者不詳 / Public domain (cropped)
- Silica materials with regularly arranged pores: “Silica gel crystal” Пекарь Константин / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (村橋・
山本研究室): “Palladium (Element - 46) 1” James St. John / CC BY 2.0 (cropped) - Related lab (髙尾研究室): “Ruthenium crystals” Periodictableru / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (福島・庄子研究室): “Emerging geometry in life building blocks” FedeCaimi / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (田中健研究室): “Analytics” ElNokko / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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