Research Fields
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Vapor-phase synthesis of large-scale two-dimensional materials
Two-dimensional (2D) materials are atomically thin layers of crystalline compounds. They have been thoroughly studied as emerging materials in recent years because they have extraordinary properties that are not found in three-dimensional bulk materials.
Our group has conducted researches on the large-scale synthesis of two-dimensional materials, namely graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides, by vapor-phase growth. Our group especially focuses on the utilization of surface alloy as the reactant and the catalyst for the growth of two-dimensional materials. Notable examples are direct growth of graphene on insulating substrates, where the surface alloy of Cu and Si behaves as the source of Cu catalyst vapor, and patterned growth of molybdenum disulfide on gold, where the surface alloy of Au and Mo acts as the atomically thin reservoir of Mo.
2.Coordinate complexes with multiple bonds
A quadruple bond is a unique type of interatomic bonds that are often found between transition metals. They have ultrashort bonding distance and narrow gap between δ and δ*, and such properties of the multiple bonds are often modulated by attached ligands.
Our group works on facile and rapid synthesis of various complexes having the multiple bonds, such as chromium acetate. Chromium acetate has quadruple bond between two chromium atoms, and they are bridged by four paddle-wheel acetate ligands. They can be coordinated by Lewis bases at their axial positions, leading to the modulation of interatomic distance between the two chromium atoms. Our group focuses on the development of new synthesis methods that feature rapidness, easiness, and versatility to overcome the drawbacks of the conventional synthesis methods.
