Members

I completed my Ph.D. in electronic and electrical engineering from the University of the Ryukyus in 2015. My research in the Nanoparticle by Design Unit in OIST was focused on the understanding of gas phase synthesized nanoparticle effect on semiconducting nanowires based micro devices. My current research interest focuses on the effect of nanocarbon materials on graphene-based micro/nano devices and their applicability in gas sensing, bio sensing and optoelectronics.

2015年に琉球大学大学院電気電子工学専攻にて博士号を取得。主な研究内容は、ナノカーボン材料を用いた半導体マイクロデバイスの作成、評価と各種センサーへの応用。

I studied applied chemistry and organic chemistry during my bachelor and master stages, respectively. Then in Jan 2020, I received my doctoral degree from University of Macau with a concentration in biomedical sciences. Organic molecule synthesis is the foundation of my research. Pursuing a suitable application for useful material is always the goal. My studies cover linear and nonlinear optics, chiroptics, bioimaging and sensing. My current research interests focus on the synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the exploration of their applications in the optical/biological fields.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2957-7025

2020年にマカオ大学にて博士号を取得。主な研究内容は、新奇多環芳香族炭化水素の合成と光学や生物分野への応用へ向けた物性評価。

In 2014, I graduated a Master of Engineering in Technical Textiles and Advanced Materials from ENSAIT (École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Industries Textiles) in Roubaix (France). I obtained my PhD in The University of Tokyo in 2019 after working mostly on organic and perovskite solar cells using carbon nanotubes or graphene electrodes, supervised by Prof. Yutaka Matsuo and Prof. Shigeo Maruyama. From 2020 to 2021, I did a postdoctoral research about nanofluidic and ion transport in devices using one individual carbon nanotube (IONESCO Project) in the University of Montpellier (France). In 2022, I did a second postdoctoral research on atomic force microscopy of graphene in the University of Genoa (Italy). I am now working at OIST on applications of nanographenes in solar cells with two units: Organic and Carbon Nanomaterials Unit (Prof. Akimitsu Narita) & Energy Materials and Surface Sciences Unit (Prof. Yabing Qi).
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2264-4160

2014年に仏国国立高等工芸繊維学校にて修士、2019年に東京大学大学院工学系研究科にて博士号を取得。2020年からモンペリエ大学、2022年にはジェノヴァ大学にて博士研究員。エネルギー材料と表面科学ユニットにも所属し、ナノカーボン材料の太陽電池への応用を目指した研究に取り組む。

In 2016, I completed my Master of Science (MS) degree in Organic Chemistry at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Subsequently, I pursued a Ph.D. at Osaka University, where I enrolled as a doctoral student in 2017. I successfully obtained my doctoral degree from Osaka University in 2020, with a research focus on the Electrochemical Synthesis of Helicene and Cyclic Dehydro Helicene.
Following the completion of my Ph.D., I transitioned to a role as a Specially Appointed Assistant Professor in the same laboratory in 2021. In OIST, my current research revolves around exploring the bottom-up synthesis of nanocarbon materials and investigating ways to modulate their optoelectronic properties.

2016年にバングラデシュ工科大学にて修士、2020年に大阪大学にて博士号を取得。2021年から2023年まで同大学にて特任助教。主な研究内容は、新奇ナノカーボン材料のボトムアップ合成と電子・光学物性の制御。

I completed my PhD in 2025 at Ulm University in the von Delius Group, where my research focused on mechanically interlocked molecules based on the supramolecular C₆₀/[10]cycloparaphenylene complex. Currently, at OIST, my work centers on the synthesis of curved nanographenes for applications in photonics and supramolecular materials.

I studied electronics at Kochi University of Technology for Bachelor, and surface science at Kyoto University for master’s degree. Here at OIST, I am studying phenomena which happens at the interface between organic molecules and 2D quantum materials by collaborating with Quantum Materials Science Unit. 

I got my Master’s degree at IISER Pune, India. My current research work is focused on the bottom-up synthesis of functionalized nanographenes for various applications such as in optoelectronic devices. In my free time, I like to play badminton and go trekking. 

インド科学教育研究大学プネー校にて修士号を取得。主な研究内容は、光エレクトロニクスデバイス等の様々な応用へ向けた機能性ナノグラフェンのボトムアップ合成。趣味はバドミントンとトレッキング。

I was born and raised in Chiba, Japan, and moved to Okinawa in 2009. I support the Unit from the administrative side, and I enjoy assisting members in achieving their scientific objectives. Beside work, I love traveling, dancing and swimming with dolphins.

E-mail: sobi.asako [at] oist.jp

Sobi Asako was born in Yokohama, Japan. He obtained his Ph.D. in 2014 from the University of Tokyo (advisor: Prof. Eiichi Nakamura). In the same year, he was appointed assistant professor at Okayama University (the group of Prof. Kazuhiko Takai). In 2019, he moved to RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science as a senior scientist. His research interests cover the exploration of sustainable organic synthesis and the design of conceptually new catalysts for challenging transformations.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4525-5317

I received my Ph.D. degree from The University of Tokyo under the supervision of Prof. Eiichi Nakamura in March 2021. In my Ph. D, I focused on transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis of organic molecules, especially in the supramolecular chemistry of cyclodextrins. In 2021, I joined OIST (Narita unit) as a JSPS postdoctoral fellow and worked on the development of a structural characterization method for nanocarbon materials utilizing TEM. In 2023, I moved to Chiba University (the group of Prof. Shiki Yagai) as an assistant professor. My current research interest focuses on the development of supramolecular polymers with unique topology and their application.

E-mail: marco.digiovannantonio[at]ism.cnr.it

Marco Di Giovannantonio obtained his Master in Material Science (2011) and his PhD in Physics (2015) at the University of Rome "Tor Vergata" (Italy), for studies on surface-confined polymerization in ultrahigh vacuum and at the solid-liquid interface. In 2016, he joined the nanotech@surfaces laboratory at Empa (Dübendorf, Switzerland) as postdoc (and then scientist), under the supervision of Prof. Roman Fasel. In 2020, he got a permanent position at the Italian National Research Council (CNR), and since then he works at the Institute of Structure of Matter (ISM). He uses a multidisciplinary approach to synthesize and characterize novel low-dimensional carbon-based nanomaterials, and optimize their growth conditions and final properties to employ them as functional materials for catalysis and organic electronics.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8658-9183

I obtained my M.Sc. (Chemistry) from Kuvempu University, Karnataka. I received my Ph.D. in Chemical Science under the guidance of Dr. Santhosh Babu Sukumaran from CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India, in 2020. My Ph.D. focused on the design and synthesis of donor/ acceptor organic small molecules for lighting and light-harvesting applications. I also studied the charge carrier mobility and conductivity of donor-acceptor co-assemblies. My current research work is focused on the design and synthesis of nanographenes with zigzag and armchair edges for optoelectronic and photonic applications.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9496-7551
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=_GYowI0AAAAJ&hl=en

E-mail: xiushang.xu [at] oist.jp

I received my bachelor’s degree (2013) in Applied Chemistry from the University of Shandong. I obtained my Ph.D. from Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Lixiang Wang in January 2019. My dissertation was on the design, synthesis and optoelectronic properties of novel light-emitting and electron transport materials based on spirobisilafluorenes as building blocks. My current research interest focuses on the bottom-up synthesis of novel nanocarbon materials with atomically-precise structures for optoelectronic devices and bioimaging.

2013年に山東大学にて学士、2019年に中国科学院長春応用化学研究所にて博士号を取得。主な研究内容は、正確な化学構造を有する新奇ナノカーボン材料のボトムアップ合成と光エレクトロニクスやバイオイメージングへの応用を見据えた物性評価。