By skillfully manipulating the "nanospace", we are developing materials for storage, separation, and conversion of substances and energies, and aim at developing scientific fields related to them.

Space is generally recognized as an empty space, but when it becomes nano-sized, it behaves as a "special" space.

The reason is that the influence from the walls that separate the spaces becomes remarkable, and this effect is found regardless of the constituents of the wall.

Based on such universal chemical knowledge, we aim to synthesize materials that have developed nanospace in various materials, characterize their structures, and develop applications of materials based on structural characteristics.

A crystal has a three-dimensionally periodic repeating structure, but when the crystal is irradiated with light with a wavelength of about 1 Å, a diffraction phenomenon based on the crystal structure is observed.

By using the diffraction data obtained in this way, we are clarifying the atomic arrangement from minute crystal grains, whether known or unknown.

In the case of minute crystal powder, it is necessary to use high-intensity light in order to obtain diffraction data with high accuracy. In such a case, an experiment was conducted at SPring-8 (Hyogo), the world's highest peak radiation facility. to hold.

Some crystals are known to change their structure in response to external stimuli. We are researching and developing materials that have nanospace among crystals.

So far, we have developed several new flexible crystals and have clarified that they are structurally changing in response to external stimuli such as gas.

Interestingly, these structural changes may occur only in certain gases, and we are developing it as an adsorption separator for carbon dioxide, which is a major cause of global warming.