[Seminar] "Coordination Nanosheets, a New Class of Functional 2D Materials." by Prof. Hiroshi Nishihara, University of Tokyo

Abstract: Two-dimensional (2D) coordination nanosheets (CONASHs) comprising metal ions and organic π-ligands have attracted much recent attention because of their unique physical and chemical properties. We have developed interfacial reactions to synthesize high-quality CONASH films. For example, a liquid−liquid interfacial reaction of nickel(II) acetate in an aqueous phase with benzenehexathiol in an organic phase produced electro-conducting multilayered sheets containing bis(dithiolato)nickel (NiDT) moieties with one micrometer thickness. A single-layer nanosheet, which is predicted to be a 2D topological insulator, was successfully synthesized using a gas−liquid interfacial reaction. Including these examples, new chemical structures, properties and functions of various CONASHs will be presented.

Biography: Hiroshi Nishihara received his D. Sc. in 1982 from The University of Tokyo. He was appointed research associate of Faculty of Science and Technology at Keio University in 1982, and promoted lecturer in 1990, and associate professor in 1992. Since 1996, he has been a professor of School of Science at The University of Tokyo. He also worked as a visiting research associate at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1987-1989). He has received Professorship of University of Bordeaux I (France) in 2005, and that of University of Strasbourg (France) in 2009. He received Docteur Honoris Causa from University of Bordeaux in 2011, Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2014, Japan Society of Coordination Chemistry Award in 2015, and Chemical Society Japan Award in 2016.