Research
Research theme 1 : Chemistry in a fine liquid at an interface
Scanning Probe Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (SPESI-MS)
Understanding of the distribution of multiple chemical components inside materials is demanded in a wide range of areas such as biomedical diagnosis and chemical analysis polymer material. For the visualization of chemical distribution, mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has attracted attention.
In general, MSI combines the ionization technique of the microscopic region and the scanning technique of the area of ionization in order to visualize the two dimensional distribution of chemical components. The representative MSI technique such as time-of-flight secondary mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and matrix assisted laser desorption / ionization (MALDI) have been commercialized and used widely. Recent years, the MSI using ambient ionization technique has received attention because of its swiftness.
The ambient ionization method, scanning probe electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (SPESI-MS) enables us to visualize the distribution of chemical components under ambient condition without sample pretreatment.
Research theme 2: Molecular electronics
Development of Nanoscale Electrical Measurement for Molecular Electronics
Understanding the electrical properties of molecules in nanoscale is needed for the research of molecular electronics. We have been working on the developments of measurement techniques. Here, we introduce two representative techniques.
One is the electrical measurement technique by atomic force microscope (AFM). Point-contact current imaging atomic force microscope (PCI-AFM) enables us to obtain the relationship between the nanostructure and the electrical conductivity.
The other is the fabrication technique of nanogap electrodes for the top-contacted geometry without wet processes. It is possible to make nanogap electrodes onto the molecules which are immobilized on a flat substrate beforehand.