Inorganic Chemistry Division

Laboratory for Radiochemistry

Research areas

1. Chemistry of superheavy elements.
2. Chemistry of exotic atoms.
3. Chemistry of radioactive elements and nuclear properties: Synthesis and properties of radioactive metal (Tc and U) complexes; Chemical effects of nuclear decay; Preparation of useful nuclides.

Chemistry of superheavy elements: The transactinide elements, also called superheavy elements, now include element 108. We recently began study of the chemical properties of heavy-actinide and transactinide elements. Our interests have concentrated on the questions surrounding how appropriate it is for the Periodic Table of the Elements to accommodate the transactinide elements as transition metals in the 7th period. Development of an apparatus for conducting “single atom chemistry” and related tracer experiments have advanced progress in this area.

Chemistry of exotic atoms: The goal of this research is the comprehensive understanding of the formation mechanisms and behavior of pionic/muonic atoms and molecules, for the purposes of applying these phenomena to analytical chemistry and material science. We also seek to develop new chemistries for 2nd generation substances.