Material Circulation and Catalysts

Through the development of high-performance catalysts and innovative polymers, we contribute to reducing resource consumption and waste, and to realizing a 'resource-circulating' society.

Modern society depends on materials produced through the consumption of large amounts of energy. To achieve a sustainable society, we must address the challenges related to these materials and their production processes. This program, based on catalytic chemistry, works on developing efficient chemical synthesis methods that use abundant resources, such as air, water, and Earth-abundant elements, while incorporating information technology, such as big data and theoretical analysis. We also create innovative polymers with self-healing and biodegradability properties, and develop chemical approaches that contribute to an environmentally sustainable and resource-recycling society.

Harnessing Earth’s Common Resources

We work on developing highly functional transition metal catalysts and biocatalysts capable of synthesizing useful substances from the Earth’s natural resources, including abundant atmospheric resources such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide, Earth-abundant elements and crustal resources. Additionally, we work on developing hydrogen production catalysts that utilize mineral resources and various water resources. These innovations will allow us to secure resources on a large scale and at low cost. Along with methods for reusing resources and catalysts, we are also exploring technologies for recycling chemical substances that contribute to environmental pollution.

Development of Innovative, Environmentally Friendly Polymers

In addition to developing self-healing materials using proprietary catalysts, we work on creating marine biodegradable polymers and other materials derived from biomass (resources from living organisms, excluding fossil resources) that can serve as substitutes for plastics made from fossil resources. Moreover, by incorporating material and catalyst informatics using big data, artificial intelligence, and mathematics, we are developing novel biopolymers.