Takashi Sumiyoshi

Bio: Takashi Sumiyoshi is an academic researcher from Hokkaido University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Radiolysis & Flash photolysis. The author has an hindex of 14, co-authored 65 publications receiving 1108 citations.

Acidic properties of Binary Metal Oxides

Abstract: Eighteen binary metal oxides consisting of TiO2–MmOn, ZnO–MmOn and Al2O3–MmOn (MmOn: metal oxide) were prepared by the usual co-precipitation method, their acid amounts and strengths being determined by n-butylamine titration using various acid-base indicators. The acid strengths of fourteen of the tested binary oxides of molar ratio 1 : 1 were found to be remarkably higher than those of the component single oxides. High acid strengths were as follows: H0≤−8.2 for TiO2–SiO2, H0≤−5.6 for TiO2–Al2O3 and Al2O3–ZrO2 and H0≤−3 for TiO2–CdO, TiO2–SnO2 and ZnO–SiO2. The acid amounts of sixteen binary oxides were larger than those of the component oxides. The effect of the composition of binary oxides on acidity was examined for TiO2–Al2O3, ZnO–Al2O3 and Al2O3–ZrO2. The acidity maxima appearing for TiO2–Al2O3 and ZnO–Al2O3 were found to be of molar ratio\simeq9:1 and for Al2O3–ZrO2\simeq3:2. A fairly good correlation has been demonstrated between the observed highest acid strengths and the average electronegativi...

On the reactivity of phosphonyl radicals towards olefinic compounds.

Abstract: Phosphonyl radicals of the structure OṖR1 (R2) with R1 and R2: C6H5(1); C6H5, OCH(CH3)2(2); CH3, OCH3(4) and OC2H5(5) were generated by UV-photolysis of appropriate acylphosphine oxides or acylphosphonates which are effective initiators of the free radical polymerization of olefinic compounds. All five radicals are very reactive towards monomers such as methacrylonitrile, styrene and methyl methacrylate (k = 5 · 107 to 2 · 108 1 · mol−1 · s−1), as was found by employing laser flash photolysis techniques. In the cases of acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, butyl vinyl ether, and vinyl acetate k ranged from 106–107 1 · mol−1 · s−1. The high reactivity of the radicals 1 – 5 is due to their tetrahedral structure. The Q-e scheme of Alfrey and Price proved useful to recognize trends in the dependence of k on the chemical nature of both phosphonyl radicals and monomers.

Meteorological parameters contributing to variability in 222Rn activity concentrations in soil gas at a site in Sapporo, Japan.

Abstract: Continuous 222Rn monitoring in soil gas since November 22, 2004 has revealed variability in activity concentration with time in the semi-natural woods on the campus of Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan. Among various factors affecting soil radon levels and variability, temperature was found to be dominant during three seasons when activity concentrations of 222Rn showed a diurnal high and nocturnal low with a boundary around 10 o'clock in the morning. This pattern was disturbed by low pressure fronts with occasional rain. The activity gradually decreased as soil temperatures decreased from late November to mid-December. After the ground surface was completely covered with snow, soil radon levels became low with a small fluctuation. There were several peaks of 222Rn on the time-series chart in winter. Those peaks appearing in early winter and early spring may be interpreted by considering meteorological parameters. In a few cases, the radon activity suddenly increased with increasing pressure in the soil at a depth of 10 cm, which may be associated with subsurface events such as seismic activity in the area.

Why are double network hydrogels so tough

Abstract: Double-network (DN) gels have drawn much attention as an innovative material having both high water content (ca. 90 wt%) and high mechanical strength and toughness. DN gels are characterized by a special network structure consisting of two types of polymer components with opposite physical natures: the minor component is abundantly cross-linked polyelectrolytes (rigid skeleton) and the major component comprises of poorly cross-linked neutral polymers (ductile substance). The former and the latter components are referred to as the first network and the second network, respectively, since the synthesis should be done in this order to realize high mechanical strength. For DN gels synthesized under suitable conditions (choice of polymers, feed compositions, atmosphere for reaction, etc.), they possess hardness (elastic modulus of 0.1–1.0 MPa), strength (failure tensile nominal stress 1–10 MPa, strain 1000–2000%; failure compressive nominal stress 20–60 MPa, strain 90–95%), and toughness (tearing fracture energy of 100∼1000 J m−2). These excellent mechanical performances are comparable to that of rubbers and soft load-bearing bio-tissues. The mechanical behaviors of DN gels are inconsistent with general mechanisms that enhance the toughness of soft polymeric materials. Thus, DN gels present an interesting and challenging problem in polymer mechanics. Extensive experimental and theoretical studies have shown that the toughening of DN gel is based on a local yielding mechanism, which has some common features with other brittle and ductile nano-composite materials, such as bones and dentins.

Physical hydrogels composed of polyampholytes demonstrate high toughness and viscoelasticity

Abstract: Hydrogels attract great attention as biomaterials as a result of their soft and wet nature, similar to that of biological tissues. Recent inventions of several tough hydrogels show their potential as structural biomaterials, such as cartilage. Any given application, however, requires a combination of mechanical properties including stiffness, strength, toughness, damping, fatigue resistance and self-healing, along with biocompatibility. This combination is rarely realized. Here, we report that polyampholytes, polymers bearing randomly dispersed cationic and anionic repeat groups, form tough and viscoelastic hydrogels with multiple mechanical properties. The randomness makes ionic bonds of a wide distribution of strength. The strong bonds serve as permanent crosslinks, imparting elasticity, whereas the weak bonds reversibly break and re-form, dissipating energy. These physical hydrogels of supramolecular structure can be tuned to change multiple mechanical properties over wide ranges by using diverse ionic combinations. This polyampholyte approach is synthetically simple and dramatically increases the choice of tough hydrogels for applications.

Photoinitiated Polymerization: Advances, Challenges, and Opportunities

Abstract: The use of photoinitiated polymerization is continuously growing in industry as reflected by the large number of applications in not only conventional areas such as coatings, inks, and adhesives but also high-tech domains, optoelectronics, laser imaging, stereolithography, and nanotechnology. In this Perspective, the latest developments in photoinitiating systems for free radical and cationic polymerizations are presented. The potential use of photochemical methods for step-growth polymerization is also highlighted. The goal is, furthermore, to show approaches to overcome problems associated with the efficiency, wavelength flexibility, and environmental and safety issues in all photoinitiating systems for different modes of activation. Much progress has been made in the past 10 years in the preparation of complex and nano-structured macromolecules by using photoinitiated polymerizations. Thus, the new and emerging applications of photoinitiated polymerizations in the field of biomaterials, surface modific...

Hydrogels for Soft Machines

Abstract: Hydrogels have applications in surgery and drug delivery, but are never considered alongside polymers and composites as materials for mechanical design. This is because synthetic hydrogels are in general very weak. In contrast, many biological gel composites, such as cartilage, are quite strong, and function as tough, shock-absorbing structural solids. The recent development of strong hydrogels suggests that it may be possible to design new families of strong gels that would allow the design of soft biomimetic machines, which have not previously been possible.