Introduction

Tokyo Tech boasts top-level research teams in the fields of chemical and materials science and engineering, with some excellent achievements to their name. In the School of Materials and Chemical Technology, students learn how to improve our lives and solve environmental, resource, and energy issues by creating new substances and materials of direct use to society, and creating new methods for their production. The School consists of two departments — Chemical Science and Engineering, with its roots in molecular chemistry, and Materials Science and Engineering, with its roots in solid materials. Students will learn a broad range of basic theories related to matter and materials, and how these theories can be applied to better support our lives. We also have affiliated research centers designated as national research hubs for research in chemistry and materials, where students come into contact with and engage in cutting-edge research as they advance through their studies.

Research Group: Yoshimitsu Sagara Lab

Sagara group started in Tokyo Teck in April 2020. We are interested in preparing external stimuli-responsive luminescent materials based on molecular assemblies including organic crystals, liquid crystals, micelles, supramolecular fibers, rotaxanes. Finding their application is also a significant target for us. Recently we have focused on the development of supramolecular mechanophores that can detect and visualize small mechanical stress.

URL:                   https://ysagara-mechano.wixsite.com/mysite

Research Field: Stimuli-responsive Luminescent Materials

Cooperation Profile:

• Sagara group can provide some mechanochromic luminescence compounds. Our potential partner can prepare hybrid materials by introducing such compounds into other materials.
• From viewpoints of practical applications, our rotaxane-based supramolecular mechanophores are quite expensive because the synthesis requires around 30 steps. So, they are not suitable for mass-production. However, once we established simple preparing methods in future, we can distribute the samples to researchers who are interested in detecting tiny mechanical forces.