2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Department of Materials Science and Engineering Graduate major in Materials Science and Engineering
Soft Materials Functional Chemistry
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Materials Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Teruaki Hayakawa
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Mon (M-374(H131))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- MAT.P413
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2026
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 5, 2026
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course provides a systematic understanding of functional organic and polymeric materials from the perspective of functional materials chemistry, with particular emphasis on materials used in advanced electronic devices. The course covers precise polymer synthesis, self-assembly, thin-film fabrication, and structural control technologies, highlighting the relationship between molecular design, hierarchical structure formation, and functional properties.
Course description and aims
Organic and polymeric materials form hierarchical self-assembled structures through various intermolecular interactions. In this course, students will acquire the ability to understand and explain thin-film fabrication based on self-assembly, alignment, and orientation control of nanostructures, and long-range ordering techniques, and to relate these structural controls to electronic and thermal properties.
Students will also gain theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to design functional polymeric materials suitable for advanced device applications by integrating precise polymerization techniques with structural control methodologies.
Keywords
organic and polymeric materials, precise polymerization, self-assembly, functional design, thin films, alignment and orientation control, long-range ordering, low-dielectric-loss polymers, thermally conductive resins
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The class is carried out along the contents of the handouts. Students are expected to use these documents for preparation and review purposes.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction : Fundamental concept of functions and physical properties on organic and polymeric materials |
Understanding functions and physical property for a variety of organic and polymeric materials must be required. Students must be able to explain the importance of the points. |
| Class 2 | Historical Development of Photolithographic Materials and Self-Assembly Technologies of Organic Polymeric Materials |
Students will understand the historical development of photolithographic materials as well as the fundamental theory of self-assembly and mechanisms of nanostructure formation. They will be able to logically explain the relationship between nanoscale structural control and material functionality. |
| Class 3 | Thin film formation technology, and surface and interface properties of organic and polymeric materials |
Understanding thin film formation technology must be required. Students must be able to explain the importance of the surface and interface properties of organic and polymeric materials. |
| Class 4 | Structure control technology in thin film for organic and polymeric materials (I) : alignment and orientation |
Students must be able to explain the importance of alignment and orientation of nanostructures in thin films of organic and polymeric materials. |
| Class 5 | Structure control technology in thin film for organic and polymeric materials (II) : long-range ordering |
Students must be able to explain the importance of long-range ordering of nanostructures in thin films of organic and polymeric materials. |
| Class 6 | Molecular Design of Thermally Conductive Resins for Semiconductor Device Applications |
Students will understand the mechanisms of thermal transport in polymeric materials and explain how molecular structure and hierarchical structural control influence thermal conductivity. They will also be able to propose molecular design guidelines for thermally conductive resins aimed at semiconductor device applications. |
| Class 7 | Molecular Design of Low-Dielectric-Loss Polymers for Semiconductor Device Applications |
Students will understand polarization mechanisms and dielectric loss in polymeric materials and explain how molecular and higher-order structures affect dielectric properties. They will also acquire the ability to systematically describe molecular design principles for achieving low dielectric loss at high frequencies in semiconductor-related applications. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None required
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Lecture materials are distributed as PDF files by download.
Evaluation methods and criteria
The grade is mainly evaluated by the results of reports specified.
Related courses
- CAP.I423 ： Advanced Organic Materials Chemistry
- ZIB.C402 ： Topics in Organic Synthesis
Prerequisites
Students should be better to have successfully completed classes regarding synthetic chemistry of organic and polymeric materials, and/or have equivalent knowledge.
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
Teruaki Hayakawa hayakawa[at]mct.isct.ac.jp
Office hours
Contact by e-mail in advance to schedule the appointment.