2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Department of Chemical Science and Engineering Graduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering

Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering III

Academic unit or major: Graduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering
Instructor(s): Margarida Costa Gomes / Xiao Su
Class Format: Lecture (HyFlex)
Media-enhanced courses: -
Day of week/Period (Classrooms): Intensive
Class: -
Course Code: CAP.T425
Number of credits: 100
Course offered: 2026
Offered quarter: 3-4Q
Syllabus updated: Sep 15, 2026
Language: English

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

[Outline] In this lecture, researchers at the forefront of applied chemistry will introduce their research results from basic to applied chemistry in order to train students to be chemists who understand the fundamental properties and reactivity of materials at the atomic and molecular level, and who have mastered advanced chemical engineering systems and their applications in the design and conversion of useful materials. In this year, two world-leading scientists, Prof. Xiao Su and Prof. Margarida Costa Gomes, invited from University of Illinois University Urbana-Champaign (US) and Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon (France), respecticely, will present the lectures on the progress of advanced chemical technologies based on electrochemistry, supramolecules, ionic liquids, and deep eutectic solvents,...etc.

[Objective] We aim to acquire a broad knowledge of researchers who are active at the forefront of applied chemistry field concerning research from basic to applied.

Course description and aims

Learn the following abilities by taking this lecture.
(1) Explain basic properties and reactivity of materials at atomic and molecular level.
(2) Explain the advanced chemical engineering systems on the design of useful materials.
(3) Explain a wide range of knowledge about functional materials and electrochemical technologies, using supramolecules, ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents from basic to applied research.

Keywords

Basic properties, atoms and molecules, materials, chemical technology, applied chemistry, electrochemistry, enviornmental chemistry, chemical separation, extraction, water purification, supramolecuels, ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvent, supercritical solvent, switchable solvent, organometallic complex.

Competencies

Specialist skills
Intercultural skills
Communication skills
Critical thinking skills
Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Two lecturers will give intensive lectures

Lecturer 1: Prof. Xiao Su (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US) )
「Title：Advanced electrochemically-mediated chemical separation with functional supramolecules」
(Lecture No.1-On site, Ookayma※, Lecture No.5, No.6-Zoom Online)

Lecturer 2: Prof. Margarida Costa Gomes (Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon (France))
「Title：The frontier of chemical reaction process based on the advanced non-conventional solvents」
(Lecture No.2, No.3, No.4,-On site, Ookayma※)

　※Students from Yokohama Campus can join by zoom online.
　※Consult with contact faculty if the students have special request of partial absence due to proper reasons such as the overlap with student experimental course.

Course schedule/Objectives

	Course schedule	Objectives
Class 1	"Advanced electrochemically-mediated chemical separation with functional supramolecules (1)"[Lecturer: Prof. Xiao Su] Study the advances of new materials design of functional supramolecules and the advanced electrochemically mediated chemical separation process. Understand the applications for rare-metal liquid extraction and water purification technologies.	Explain chemical separation, electrochemical process, material design of functional supramolecules, liquid extraction, water purification.
Class 2	"The frontier of chemical reaction process based on the advanced non-conventional solvents (1) -Alternative Media for Chemical Engineering" [Lecturer: Prof. Margarida Costa Gomes] •Overview of non-conventional solvents (ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, supercritical fluids, switchable solvents) as replacements for volatile organic compounds, focusing on how tunable intermolecular interactions (Coulombic, dispersive, hydrogen-bonding) govern solvation, viscosity, and phase behavior •Comparative analysis of key physicochemical properties — vapor pressure, thermal/chemical stability, polarity windows, and density — that determine process feasibility in separation, reaction, and extraction operations •Case studies on selecting alternative media based on target application constraints (e.g., electrochemical stability window for electrolytes, hydrophobicity for biphasic extraction, thermal range for high-temperature catalysis)	Explain non-conventional solvents (ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, supercritical fluids, switchable solvents).
Class 3	"The frontier of chemical reaction process based on the advanced non-conventional solvents (2) -Ionic Liquids and Deep Eutectic Solvents: State of the Art and Perspectives" [Lecturer: Prof. Margarida Costa Gomes] • Structural fundamentals: cation/anion design rules, charged and apolar domain segregation, and how nanostructuring (probed via X-ray scattering and molecular dynamics) dictates macroscopic properties like viscosity and miscibility • Deep eutectic solvents as a sustainable alternative to classical ILs — hydrogen-bond donor/acceptor mixtures, eutectic depression mechanisms, and trade-offs in cost, biodegradability, and performance versus traditional ionic liquids • Emerging frontiers: porous liquids (MOF/ZIF particle suspensions in ILs/DESs) combining permanent porosity with liquid-state mobility, and their implications for gas capture, storage, and reactive media design	Explain ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, supercritical fluids, switchable solvents.
Class 4	"The frontier of chemical reaction process based on the advanced non-conventional solvents (3) -Applications, Predictive Methods, and Opportunities in Sustainable Technologies and Renewable Energy" [Lecturer: Prof. Margarida Costa Gomes] •Molecular simulation and predictive tools (polarizable force fields, COSMO-RS, group-contribution methods) for rational solvent/electrolyte screening prior to experimental synthesis, reducing trial-and-error development cycles •Applications in energy storage and conversion: ionic liquid/DES-based electrolytes for batteries (including multivalent and post-lithium systems); lowering the carbon footprint of biogas purification; new approaches in electrochemical CO2/N2 reduction, focusing on transport properties and interfacial stability •Gas capture and separation technologies using tailored solvents and porous liquids, highlighting how thermodynamic and transport data (solubility, diffusivity, selectivity) guide process-scale design for carbon capture and green chemical synthesis	Explain the application technologies of non-conventional solvents.
Class 5	「Advanced electrochemically-mediated chemical separation with functional supramolecules（2）」[Lecturer: Prof. Xiao Su (Zoom online)] Introductory electrochemistry lecture that covers content including electron transfer (redox vs oxidation), key redox reactions in electrochemical devices (e.g., HOR/ORR in fuel cells, HER/OER in water electrolyzers, etc), energy storage vs energy conversion devices, and how to calculate the cell voltage of a device. It will also will cover state-of-art research in electro-catalysis and electroseparation.	Explain fundamental theory of electrochemistry, catalysts, chemical separation technologies.
Class 6	「Advanced electrochemically-mediated chemical separation with functional supramolecules　（3）」[Lecturer: Prof. Xiao Su (Zoom Online)] Smart polymers respond to external stimuli such as temperature, light, pH, mechanical forces, or redox conditions by changing their properties and behavior. Their unique ability to translate molecular-scale changes into macroscopic responses creates new opportunities in materials science and engineering.This lecture introduces the molecular principles underlying polymer responsiveness and shows how molecular design can be used to control material function. Selected case studies will illustrate the connection between molecular structure, emergent properties, and technological applications.	Explain stimuli-responsive polyer, molecular-scale engineering, advanced application for chemical separation.

Study advice (preparation and review)

Textbook(s)

None required.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

None required.　Handouts may be distributed as needed.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Attendance will be checked in every class. Full attendance is required in principle. Grades will be based on exercises in classes or reports.

Related courses

CAP.P421 ： Special Lecture on Characterization of Polymer Structures and Properties
CAP.I437 ： Introduction to Polymer Physical Properties
CAP.P522 ： Advanced Polymer Structures
CAP.C424 ： Advanced Reaction Process Engineering
ENR.H411 ： Topics in Applied Electrochemistry
HCB.A561 ： Nanobio Materials and Devices
CAP.C443 ： Advanced Reaction-Separation Process
CAP.C441 ： Transport Phenomena and Operation

Prerequisites

No prerequisites.

Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).

Contact (contact faculty):
Takuya Harada (harada[at]mct.isct.ac.jp)

Office hours

10:00~17:00

Other

Date and Time
No.1: Oct.19 (Mon) 5-6 period (13:30-15:10) (Prof. Xiao Su, Ookayama Campus, Main Building, M-123)
No.2: Oct.21 (Wed) 5-6 period (13:30-15:10) (Prof. Margarida Cost Gomes, Ookayama Campus, Main Building, M-123)
No.3: Oct.22 (Thu) 5-6 period (13:30-15:10) (Prof. Margarida Cost Gomes, Ookayama Campus, Main Building, M-123)
No.4: Oct.23 (Fri) 5-6 period (13:30-15:10) (Prof. Margarida Cost Gomes, Ookayama Campus, Main Building, M-123)
No.5: TBD (in November) (Prof. Xiao Su, Zoom Online※)
No.6: TBD (in December) (Prof. Xiao Su, Zoom Online※)

※Details will be provided by the contact faculty.