In an interdisciplinary way among chemistry, biology and physics, our group has been studying fundamental electronic functions like conductivity, superconductivity, magnetism, and dielectricity in low-dimensional charge transfer salts, nanoporous molecular materials, and biological systems such as DNA. There are highly confined electron’s motional degrees of freedom in a plane, chain or topologically curved channels. With dynamical conductivity measurements up to terahertz waves, our strategic targets are placed on the following materials.

1. Quasi two-dimensional (BEDT-TSF)₂MX₄ (M = Fe, Ga and X = Cl, Br) salts ((bis)ethylenedithio-tetraselenafulvalene). This compound undergoes superconductivity, metal-insulator transition, and magnetic ordering. Recently we found, in the salt with FeCl₄ anion, quite novel dielectric phenomena in a high temperature metallic phase followed at 8.3 K by ferroelectric ordering in coexistence with antiferromagnetic insulating states.

2. Novel carbon mesoporous crystals with topologically curved channels like CMK_-n (n = 1 - 4) synthesized by Prof. R. Ryoo’s group (KAIST in Korea).

3. Novel transition-metal borates in collaboration with Dr. Ju Jing, a 21COE fellow.

4. Highly oriented DNA. The microwave and teraherz conductivities and the infrared radiation are being studied in collaboration with many groups as a program research in the Center for Interdisciplinary Research.