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Satake Lab
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A lab that creates supramolecular materials that self-assemble using porphyrins.
AboutAbout the lab
Designing and synthesizing self-assembling molecules
The Satake Lab uses organic synthetic chemistry to design and synthesize molecules whose structures enable self-assembly, and creates supramolecular materials from them.
The lab precisely controls self-assembly, the phenomenon in which molecules spontaneously form ordered structures, through molecular shape and weak interactions such as metal coordination, van der Waals forces, and the hydrophobic effect.
The lab aims to develop photo- and electro-functional materials for artificial photosynthesis and CO₂ reduction reactions, as well as new functional materials that arise from the aggregated structures of molecules.
The lab also supports Type A graduation research for working-adult students, carried out at night and on weekends.
Key terms
- Self-assembly
- A phenomenon in which molecules gather on their own to form ordered structures. This lab aims to control it precisely.
- Porphyrin
- A molecule used in the lab's various research themes. Combined with bipyridine, it forms the cyclic molecule PM.
- Shape-assisted self-assembly
- Self-assembly in which molecules gather by making use of their shape. With the cyclic molecule PM, it is used to form nanotubes that harvest light energy.
- Liposome
- An artificial membrane used for applications such as drug delivery. This lab modifies its surface and interior with synthetic molecules.
NewsLab news
Paper published in Coordination Chemistry Research
An explanatory article by Assistant Professor Takeshige was published in Kagaku Forum
A student won a poster award at the 74th Symposium on Coordination Chemistry of Japan
Paper published in Chem. Eur. J.
ResearchResearch themes
The Satake Lab works on a variety of research themes using porphyrins. Using organic synthetic chemistry, the lab designs and synthesizes molecules that enable self-assembly, and aims to create supramolecular materials such as photo- and electro-functional materials related to artificial photosynthesis and CO₂ reduction reactions.
*Illustrative imageLight-harvesting and catalytic materials based on the cyclic molecule PM
The lab studies shape-assisted self-assembly, in which the cyclic molecule PM, made by combining porphyrin and bipyridine, assembles with support from its own shape. It aims to develop light-harvesting antennas for artificial photosynthesis using light-harvesting nanotubes, and catalytic materials in which metal clusters are encapsulated inside PM.
*Illustrative imageFlexible modification of liposomes
The lab is developing a method to modify liposomes, artificial membranes used for applications such as drug delivery, by a post-insertion method using synthetic molecules. The amphiphilic porphyrins the lab designed assemble spontaneously within the lipid bilayer, and can give new functions to the surface and interior of liposomes.
*Illustrative imageSupramolecular polymers with switchable structures
Bis(imidazolylzinc porphyrin) can form two types of polymer structures: a flexible extended form and a rigid stacked form. When the structure changes, the conjugated system is extended and the absorption wavelength shifts to the near-infrared region, and the lab works on developing functional materials that take advantage of this change.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Satake Lab consist of faculty members, master's students, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorAkiharu Satake
- Assistant ProfessorLeonardo Hayato Takeshige
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: “Host Guest Complex Porphyrin Sanders AngewChemIntEdEngl” M stone at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Light-harvesting and catalytic materials based on the cyclic molecule PM: “Porphyrin, chlorin, bacteriochlorins” Original work: Livewire61, Expanded derivative work: H Padleckas (talk) / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Flexible modification of liposomes: “Phosphatidylcholine liposomes at phase-contrast microscopy” ArkhipovSergey / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Supramolecular polymers with switchable structures: “Single crystal of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-ethoxycarbonylphenyl)porphine” Leiem / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (木村研究室): “Grignard reaction experiment 01” Calvero / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (森研究室): “Jaguar Supercomputer ( )” Oak Ridge National Laboratory / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (渡辺研究室): “Nanocubes” Clarisse23000 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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