Chemistry

This course covers the basic tools for polymer synthesis and characterization as well as applications of polymers in various fields. Topics include: Introduction to polymers; Step growth polymerization: linear and non-linear; Chain growth polymerization: (controlled/free) radical and ionic;  Polymer solutions/mixing/separation; Physical properties/characterization (GPC, NMR, MALDI-TOF MS, thermal and mechanical properties); Applications of polymers in drug delivery and regenerative medicine; Recycling of polymers and designing polymers for recycling; Practical work on polymer synthesis and characterization.  There are 5 pillars of this course are: 1) polymer synthesis; 2) polymer characterization; 3) polymer behavior; 4) applications; 5) recycling and end-of life management of polymers. These pillars provide the tools to understand and design polymers for specific applications, taking into account the desired properties and the end-of-life management of the materials. The course is supplemented by a practical experiment to expose the students to real-case examples. Students are divided into groups, and each group is tasked to polymerize a specific monomer using a specific technique. The second part of the experiment is focused on characterization of the synthesized polymer. The aim of the practical is to further learn through experiment the kinetics of polymerization reactions and the characterization methods. Knowledge on elementary organic chemistry, elementary thermodynamics, elementary physics, elementary reaction kinetics is recommended. 

This course is an in-depth exploration of the mechanisms underlying inorganic and organometallic reactions, with a particular focus on understanding their fundamentals and applications. Students examine key aspects of organometallic chemistry, including bonding, reactivity, and catalytic cycles, while also delving into spectroscopic and non-spectroscopic techniques used to probe reaction mechanisms. Techniques such as NMR, IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and kinetic studies are emphasized to elucidate reaction pathways and intermediate characterization. The course also highlights cutting-edge trends in inorganic and organometallic chemistry, showcasing recent advancements in catalysis and chemical transformations. By the end of the semester, students will develop a strong foundation in mechanistic analysis and contemporary methodologies used in inorganic chemistry research. CH344 is recommended as a prerequisite course. All lectures will be in English.

This course introduces important instrumental techniques used in analytical chemistry, including thermal analysis (TGA, DSC), chemical and elemental analysis (AAS, ICP-AES, AFS, UV-visible absorption, FTIR, ATR-IR), Raman techniques, x-ray techniques (XFS, XPS, XRD), imaging and electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), mass spectrometry and its hyphenated techniques (GC-MS, MALDI). Case studies and real application examples in quality control, environmental analysis, materials characterization, forensic studies, etc. are illustrated. Beginning from the fundamentals and connecting these to real applications, students learn to appreciate the plethora of scientific tools developed to provide analysis solutions for real problems they encounter.

This course provides opportunities to conduct simple experiments and observe chemical phenomena, so students can gain a firsthand understanding of chemistry in their everyday life. Then, the course addresses the similarities and differences between student observations and the theories (principles and mechanisms) described in textbooks and other sources.

This six-week summer course provides individual research training through the experience of belonging to a specific laboratory at Tohoku University. Students are assigned to a laboratory research group with Japanese and international students under the supervision of Tohoku University faculty. They participate in various group activities, including seminars, for the purpose of training in research methods and developing teamwork skills. The specific topic studied depends on the instructor in charge of the laboratory to which each student is assigned. The methods of assessment vary with the student's project and laboratory instructor. Students submit an abstract concerning the results of their individual research each semester and present the results near the end of this program.

This course introduces physical chemistry which is the basis for the analysis and design of chemical and bio-processes. Students learn the state and structure of pure matter, understand the state of mixed and complex matter, and grasp the mechanism by which matter changes. 

This course covers general chemistry for non-chemistry majors. Basic chemical theory and phenomena are considered in the course. This course equips students with the ability to apply fundamental concepts and principles of chemistry to real-world contexts. By exploring the structure of atoms and molecules, which are the building blocks of matter, and the principles governing chemical transformations, students develop skills to analyze and predict chemical changes.