Academic Staff

Metal complexes consisting of metal ions and organic ligands build a variety of new structures. Their unique features are the manifestation of new properties and functions not found in the constituent metal ions or organic ligands. My research group focuses on the synthesis of new metal complexes that can remove or detect anions in aqueous solutions. For example, perchlorate ion is known to be a toxic anion, especially for children. Although the acceptable concentration of anions in drinking water is considered to be less than 24.5 ppb, it is very difficult to remove the anion below that concentration. One of our metal complexes can easily remove anions from water to less than 24.5 ppb. In addition, another complex can detect the 24 ppb of perchlorate ion by a color change in the aqueous solution. In addition to anions, metal complexes have also been developed for the detection and quantification of bicarbonate, nitrate, and nitrite anions.