RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science Catalytic Utilization of Carbon Resources Research Team

Team Director: Kyoko Nozaki (Ph.D.)

Japanese Page

Research Summary

We conduct both fundamental and applied research aimed at achieving nonlinear breakthroughs in catalysis and polymer science, with the goal of enabling the effective use of underutilized carbon resources such as carbon dioxide, non-edible biomass, and plastic waste. Through this work, we seek to contribute to solving global environmental challenges.
In particular, our efforts focus on developing methods for synthesizing polymers from carbon dioxide and olefins, as well as deoxygenation reactions that valorize biomass and plastic waste, employing both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. Moreover, by elucidating the underlying mechanisms, we aim to establish a unified theory of catalyst design that applies across both liquid- and solid-phase systems.

Main Research Fields

Chemistry

Related Research Fields

Engineering
Complex Systems
Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering
Synthetic Organic Chemistry
Green Sustainable Chemistry
Polymer Chemistry

Keywords

Carbon Resources
Valorization
Homogeneous catalysis
Heterogeneous catalysis
Reaction mechanism analysis

Selected Publications

Papers with an asterisk(*) are based on research conducted outside of RIKEN.

1. *M. D. R. Lutz, F. Kracht, K. Marumoto, K. Nozaki
"Gram-scale selective telomerization of isoprene and CO₂ toward 100% renewable materials"
Nat. Commun. 2025, 16, 7326.
2. *M. Nobis, K. Takahashi, J. Uchida, S. Nakagawa, N. Yoshie, T. Kato, K. Nozaki
"Polyethyleneketones with Controlled Spacer Units: Synthesis, Characterization and Photodegradation"
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 17034–17041.
3. *Y. Huang, Y. Yamazaki, K. Nomoto, H. Miura, T. Shishido, X. Jin, K. Nozaki
"Bimetallic synergy in supported Ni–Pd catalyst for selective hydrogenolysis of C–O bonds in epoxy resins"
Nat. Commun. 2025, 16, 1188.
4. *T. Iwasaki, Y. Yamada, N. Naito, K. Nozaki
"Chemoselective Hydrogenolysis of Urethanes to Formamides and Alcohols in the Presence of More Electrophilic Carbonyl Compounds"
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 25562–25568.
5. *Y. Lu, K. Takahashi, J. Zhou, R. Nontarin, S. Nakagawa, N. Yoshie, K. Nozaki
"Synthesis of Long-Chain Polyamides via Main-Chain Modification of Polyethyleneketones"
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202410849.
6. *B. Lu, K. Takahashi, J. Zhou, S. Nakagawa, Y. Yamamoto, T. Katashima, N. Yoshie, K. Nozaki
"Mild Catalytic Degradation of Crystalline Polyethylene Units in Solid State Assisted by Carboxylic Acid Groups"
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 19599–19608.
7. *H. Yuan, K. Takahashi, S. Hayashi, M. Suzuki, N. Fujikake, K. Kasuya, J. Zhou, S. Nakagawa, N. Yoshie, C. Li, K. Yamaguchi, K. Nozaki
"Synthesis of novel polymers with biodegradability by main-chain editing of chiral polyketones"
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 13658–13665.
8. *K. Shirayama, X. Jin, K. Nozaki
"Selective Hydrogenation of Aldehydes Under Syngas Using CeO₂-Supported Au Nanoparticle Catalyst"
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 14086–14094.
9. *K. Oshida, K. Yuan, Y. Yamazaki, R. Tsukimura, H. Nishio, K. Nomoto, H. Miura, T. Shishido, X. Jin, K. Nozaki
"Hydrogen-induced formation of surface acid sites on Pt/Al(PO₃)₃ enables remarkably efficient hydrogenolysis of C−O bonds in alcohols and ethers"
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202403092.
10. *Y. Liao, K. Takahashi, K. Nozaki
"Nickel-Catalyzed C(sp³)−O Hydrogenolysis via a Remote Concerted Oxidative Addition and its Application to Degradation of a Bisphenol A-Based Epoxy Resin"
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 2419–2425.

Lab Members

Principal investigator

Kyoko Nozaki: Team Director

Contact Information

＃633, Main Research Building,
2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan

Visiting the Lab

Email: kyoko.nozaki@riken.jp