Molecular Shape–Directed Ordering: Soft Material Design Based on Rigid Threefold Symmetric Molecules

 

Molecular Shape–Directed Ordering: Soft Material Design Based on Rigid Threefold Symmetric Molecules

 

Date: 5^th June, 2026 (Friday)

Time: 5 - 6 pm (HKT)

 

Venue: Lecture Theatre P2, Chong Yuet Ming Physics Building

 

 

Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science

Institute of Science Tokyo

 

Prof. Takanori Fukushima is a Professor at the Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science and Director of the Research Center for Autonomous Systems Materialogy (ASMat) at the Institute of Science Tokyo. He earned his B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. from Tohoku University, where he began his academic career as an Assistant Professor. Prof. Fukushima’s professional trajectory includes significant leadership roles, notably as a Group Leader for the JST ERATO Aida Nanospace Project and a Team Leader at RIKEN. In 2010, he joined the Tokyo Institute of Technology as a Professor, continuing his tenure through the institution's recent reorganization into the Institute of Science Tokyo in 2024. His extensive contributions to chemistry and materials science have earned him numerous prestigious honors, including the 2021 Award of the Society of Polymer Science, Japan, and the 2020 Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and excellent publications in Science, Nat. Nanotech., Nat. Chem. His research remains at the forefront of functional soft matter and autonomous system materials.

 

Understanding structure–property relationships in molecular assemblies remains a central issue in modern materials science. This lecture presents a molecular design strategy based on rigid threefold symmetric molecules, such as triptycene and triphenylene, in which molecular shape plays a decisive role in directing self-assembly. Particular emphasis will be placed on the formation of highly ordered two-dimensional sheets with hexagonal symmetry and their one-dimensional stacking structures (2D+1D). This shape-directed approach enables the construction of molecular assemblies with well-defined alignment and orientation over macroscopic length scales. The generality of this design principle and its applicability to a variety of soft material systems will also be discussed.