Published papers

Organic energy storage has attracted a lot of interest in enhancing performance and reducing the consumption of resources. If performance predictors are prepared, the exploration of new compounds can be accelerated without consumption of time, energy, and effort. In the present work, a new straightforward capacity predictor is constructed for the exploration of organic anode-active materials. Sparse modeling for small data (SpM-S) combining machine learning (ML) and our chemical insights was used to construct linear regression models of specific capacity. In our previous work, two predictors (models G1 and G2) were prepared using small datasets. However, the descriptors and prediction accuracy of these models were not validated. In the present work, a new improved model (model G3) has been constructed with the addition of new data. These three models were studied in terms of data science: namely, prediction accuracy, validity of the descriptors, amount of training data used, and effect of ML algorithms. The straightforward, generalizable, and interpretable model G3 can be applied to explore new organic anode-active materials. Moreover, these data-scientific approaches to model construction and validation can be used to explore new energy-related materials even with small data.

Imaging and measurement of friction forces are required in a variety of fields. If the friction forces originating from the motions of professionals are quantitatively analyzed, the data can be applied to a motion-copying system by a robot. However, weak friction forces have not been visualized and quantified using conventional sensing materials and devices because of their low sensitivity. Here we present a highly sensitive friction-imaging device based on the cascading responses of stimuli-responsive materials, namely polydiacetylene (PDA) and dry liquid (DL). Weak friction forces disrupt the DL, which is composed of liquid droplets surrounded by solid particles. The outflowing liquid under chemical stress changes the color of PDA. The cascading responses enable colorimetric imaging and measurement of weak friction forces in the range of 0.006-0.080 N. Furthermore, the device visualizes the force distribution of handwriting in calligraphy depending on the individual characteristics of an expert, a practician, and a beginner. A high-sensitivity friction-imaging device can be used to understand various motions.

Two-dimensional materials, such as layered compounds and nanosheets, have attracted interest for their characteristic structures and properties. If layered materials containing functional organic molecules are synthesized, designed nanosheets can be obtained by exfoliation. Here we show the design and synthesis of an amorphous organic layered material containing a conjugated-polymer network, its exfoliation into nanosheets, and their applications. Copolymerization of benzoquinone and pyrrole generates random stacks of the conjugated polymer layers through successive C-C bond formation and pericyclic reaction under mild conditions at 60 °C. The amorphous organic layered materials are efficiently exfoliated into nanosheets in 44.6% after 1 h. The nanosheets are used as a metal-free electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction with the overpotential 0.28 V (vs. RHE). The present approach may be applied to the design of functional nanosheets with graphene-like structures under mild conditions.

Measurement of friction force is important for safety, security, and health. Excessive friction force causes degradation of materials and biological bodies. For example, tooth enamel and gums are damaged by strong toothbrushing force. However, friction force is not easily measured by conventional materials and devices. Here, we proposed design strategies of a paper-based device for measurement of friction force. Toothbrushing force, a model of weak friction force, is the measurement target in the present work. Soft layered composites of polydiacetylene (PDA) and interlayer guest macromolecules were designed and synthesized to achieve a visible color change in response to weak friction force. A data-scientific approach assisted in the selection of the interlayer guest molecule to control the stimuli responsivity of the layered PDA. The guest polyethyleneimine (PEI) formed soft layered composites exhibiting a color change in response to weak friction force. The paper-based device of the layered PDA/PEI composite showed a gradual color change from blue to red in response to the strength and number of the applied friction force. As a model case, toothbrushing force was measured using the paper-based device. The present work shows new design strategies of molecules and materials toward measurement of a wide variety of friction forces.

The organization states of functional molecules have a significant impact on the properties of materials. A variety of approaches have been studied to obtain well-organized molecular assemblies. The present work shows a new non-organized state of isolated and dispersed functional molecules in amorphous flexible covalent organic networks. Redox-active quinone molecules are embedded in the amorphous network polymers. Consecutive reactions between benzoquinone (BQ) and linker molecules generate random network structures through polymerization at different rates and in multiple directions. The low-crystalline stackings of the amorphous network polymers facilitate the formation of nanoflakes through exfoliation in dispersion media. Enhanced electrochemical performances, one of the highest specific capacities in recent studies, were achieved by efficient redox reactions of the quinone moiety. The present noncrystalline approach, low-crystalline stacking of designer amorphous covalent organic networks, can be applied to construct similar nanostructured polymer materials containing functional units. This journal is

Nanometer-scale switching of the crystallographic orientation enables production of novel superlattices for exploration of new functions. Elaborate multilayered architectures of Mn3O4 nanocuboids were constructed by a convective self-assembly process. The nanometric cuboids were accumulated into orientation-switched superlattices on micrometric scales by controlling the a and c directions of the tetragonal crystal periodically. The orthogonal stacking of the tetragonal nanoblocks was achieved through the layer-by-layer manipulation process of two types of 2D arrays with different orientations.

The combination of heterogeneous inorganic nanocrystals provides novel nanometer-scale architectures for exploration of novel functions. In the present study, heterogeneous bilayers, such as BaTiO3-Fe3O4 and Mn3O4-CeO2, are fabricated via layer-by-layer stacking of several rectangular nanoblocks 5-23 nm in size by evaporation-driven self-assembly. Specific heterojunctions between inorganic crystals are constructed by nanoscale simple brick work through spontaneous adjustment of the crystallographic orientations of the nanoblocks in the lower and upper layers.

Highly porous organic structures are synthesized by the oxidative polymerization of pyrrole derivatives in a concentrated monomer and oxidant solution. The rapid polymerization of pyrrole by oxidation with FeCl3 in CHCl3 as a cosolvent for the monomer and the oxidant leads to nanometer-scale branching morphologies that have a specific surface area of ~200 m2 g−1. The polymerization of pyrrole derivatives, such as 1-methylpyrrole and 1-ethylpyrrole, produced intragranular micropores of ~1 nm in diameter in the polymer grains of nanoscale dendrites. We obtained highly porous polymers of polypyrrole derivatives that have high specific surface areas (~900 m2 g−1) with bimodal pore-size distribution. The enhanced adsorbability of porous polymer dendrites for aromatic molecules was confirmed, in comparison with that of conventional polystyrene adsorbents.

Supermicroporous silicas having micropores 1-2 nm in diameter were miniaturized to 30-40 nm in diameter using a combination of binary organic agents: cationic surfactant as a porogen and polyethylene glycol as a growth suppressor in a concentrated system. The miniaturized nanograins of the porous silica were effective as a porous and transparent matrix for WO 3 quantum dots that exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity.

Fluorescent pyrone derivatives were extracted from the pyrolitic product of citric acid confined in supermicroporous silicas (SMPSs). We utilized the tiny spaces of SMPSs to produce fluorescent molecules as small fragments of carbogenic dots. We characterized their optical properties and investigated their structual information. The obtained molecule was determined as a pyrone derivative. The isolated product showed similar optical properties to those of reported carbogenic dots. Therefore, we suggest that the pyrone structure is the key fragment structure of carbogenic dots.

A structured spinel oxide as a positive-electrode active material for magnesium rechargeable batteries was produced using a propylene-oxide-driven sol–gel method and subsequent vanadium oxide coating. Porous frameworks consisting of MgMn2O4 nanoparticles having diameters of ∼10 nm exhibited a large specific surface area of ∼150 m2 g−1 and interconnected bimodal pores distributed in the micrometer (1–10 μm) and nanometer (10–100 nm) regions. Hierarchical conduction paths constructed by mixing the porous frameworks with carbon nanoparticles reduced the overpotential for the insertion and extraction of magnesium ions and increased the redox capacity in an ionic-liquid electrolyte system. Moreover, the surface coating of vanadium oxide on the spinel oxide nanoparticles enhanced the extraction of magnesium ions and suppressed the decomposition of the electrolyte. The electrochemical properties, such as the capacities, rate capabilities, and cyclabilities, of the positive electrodes were largely improved by the structured spinel oxide frameworks.

Calcite nanorods ∼50 nm wide are thermally separated into nanoblocks. The fragmentation is ascribed to the ion diffusion on metastable crystal surfaces at temperatures (∼400 °C) much lower than the melting point. The presence of water molecules enhances the surface diffusion and induces deformation of the nanorods even at ∼60 °C.

Sapphirinid copepods, which are marine zooplankton, exhibit tunable structural colors originating from a layered structure of guanine crystal plates. In the present study, the coloring portion of adult male of a sapphirinid copepod, Sapphirina nigromaculata, under the dorsal body surface was characterized to clarify the regulation and actuation mechanism of the layered guanine crystals for spectral control. The coloring portions are separated into small domains 70–100 µm wide consisting of an ordered array of stacked hexagonal plates ~1.5 µm wide and ~80 nm thick. We found the presence of chitin-based honeycomb frameworks that are composed of flat compartments regulating the guanine crystal plates. The structural color is deduced to be tuned from blue to achromatic via yellow and purple by changing the interplate distance according to vital observation and optical simulation using a photonic array model. The framework structures are essential for the organization and actuation of the particular photonic arrays for the exhibition of the tunable structural color.

The coercivity of magnetic nanoparticles is enhanced by the exchange coupling effect at the interface of ferrimagnetic and antiferromagnetic self-assembled monolayers. Antiferromagnetic Co3O4 nanocubes were regularly stacked on an ordered monolayer of ferrimagnetic Fe3O4 nanocubes by layer-by-layer manipulation using evaporation-driven self-assembly. The ordered arrangements of the ferrimagnetic and antiferromagnetic nanocubes are effective for the enhancement of the ferromagnetic character.

Uniformly sized building units are generally required to construct highly elaborate architectures over a wide range. Defined nanocubes of Co3O4 evolved from deformed precursor nanograins 2-5 nm in diameter through direct oriented attachment in a nonpolar medium. Uniformly sized primary nanocubes -8 nm on a side with {100} faces were formed by adjusting the coverage of the oxide nanograins with oleic acid. Larger nanocubes 20-40 nm on a side were produced with further direct oriented attachment of the primary nanocubes. Ordered arrays, such as superlattices, were found to be constructed by the indirect oriented attachment of the primary and larger nanocubes covered with organic molecules.

Uniformly sized nanoparticles 35nm in diameter of Y 2 O 3 - stabilized ZrO 2 (YSZ) were fabricated by a water-toluene twophase solvothermal method. The nanoparticles that were covered with oleic acid were highly dispersed in organic media. The size and doping concentration were tuned by adjusting the preparation conditions. The fabrication of YSZ thin films was achieved through hexagonal arrangement by evaporation-induced selfassembly of highly dispersive mono-sized nanoparticles.

Organic cathodes for lithium-ion batteries are one of the most promising and significant materials toward a sustainable society. The molecular design is a key to achieve superior performances beyond inorganic cathodes. The present work shows predictors of the reaction potential, specific capacity, and ideal energy density for organic cathodes. Straightforward prediction models of the performance were constructed by a combination of machine learning and chemical insight, namely, sparse modeling for small data (SpM-S), on a small data set as training data found in the literature. The prediction accuracy was validated using different literature data. The predictors can be applied to explore high-performance organic cathodes in a wide search space efficiently. Moreover, SpM-S afforded straightforward, interpretable, and generalizable prediction models compared to other machine-learning algorithms. The small-data-driven methodology can be applied for further exploration of materials, enhancement of performances, and optimization of processes.

The adequate manipulation of nanometer-scale building blocks using dispersion systems is regarded as a fundamental technique to fabricate elaborate microstructures. Although a liquid flow with evaporation is generally regarded as an essential factor for the self-assembly of floating blocks, experimental evidence has not been sufficient to clarify the importance of the flow in the dispersion systems. In the present study, 2D nematic layers of sterically stabilized nanoscale calcite rods were achieved in a millimeter-scale region on a solid substrate via the very slow recession of an organic dispersion with evaporation. 2D random arrays of the nanorods were obtained via recession of the liquid in the same system without evaporation. When the nanorods were not sterically stabilized, 3D random arrays were formed even with evaporation. We demonstrated that the evaporation-driven flow of sterically stabilized nanorods to a confined space at the air-liquid-solid interface is essential for the formation of 2D nematic structures on a substrate.

Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) is regarded as an important precursor of biogenic crystal phases having specific shapes and mechanical properties. In the present work, calcite that was produced from ACC nanoparticles containing aspartic acid was characterized by Raman scattering spectroscopy and nanoindentation techniques. The tensile strain of the calcite lattice that was estimated from the vibrational spectroscopy varied with the organic content and the mild calcination condition of ACC nanoparticles. Calcite was found to be hardened by the presence of residual organic components inside the crystal lattice. On the other hand, the modulus of calcite decreased as the content of external organic components increased. Here, the mechanical properties of the calcite framework are successfully tuned by the crystallization of the specific amorphous phases containing organic molecules. The mechanical modulation of calcite can be associated with lattice expansion by using vibrational spectroscopy. This journal is

Silica frustules of most planktonic diatoms have many shallow holes in which the length (L) is smaller than the width (W). The present study focuses on a silica ultrastructure of setae of a planktonic diatom having deep (L/W > 1) holes. Here, we characterized microscopically patterned nanoholes on the silica walls of thick, robust, and hollow setae of a colony of Chaetoceros coarctatus. Basically, tetragonal poroid arrangements with and without a costa pattern are observed on the inner and outer surfaces, respectively, for three kinds of curving hollow setae attached to the anterior, intercalary, and posterior parts of the colony. The seta structures including specific poroid arrangements and continuity of deep nanoholes depend on the location. The deep nanoholes ∼90 nm wide are elongated from 150 to 1500 nm (L/W ∼17) with an increase in the wall thickness of the polygonal tubes of the setae. The inside poroid array, with a period of 190 nm in the extension direction of setae, is lined by parallel plates of the costae. However, the poroid arrangement on the outer surface is disordered, with several holes obstructed with increasing wall thickness of the posterior terminal setae. According to the movement of a colony in a fluid microchannel, the thick curving terminal setae is suggested to involve attitude control and mechanical protection. Using an optical simulation, the patterned deep through-holes on the intercalary setae were suggested to contribute anti-reflection of blue light in the wavelength range of 400 to 500 nm for the promotion of photosynthesis in seawater.