Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica – Research
Directions
The research thrusts of the Institute are currently grouped along three major directions: materials chemistry, chemical synthesis and catalysis, and chemical biology. The current topics of materials sector include organic electroluminescent materials and devices, organic field-effect transistor materials and devices, photovoltaic materials and devices. The chemical catalysis and synthesis sector is focusing on the development of new synthetic methodology, drug discovery, carbohydrate chemistry, and the development of new catalytic systems for the generation of renewal energies and green fuels. The chemical biology program has made important advances in the delineation of bio-macromolecular structures and the development of new analytical platforms for disease detection and diagnosis.
Materials Chemistry: Organic Electronic and Optoelectronic Materialsy
Applications of organic optoelectronic materials and molecular engineering of nanomaterials are two major research directions under the materials division. Noticeable results include developments of blue fluorescent molecular materials for high performance organic light-emitting diodes, rational design of field-effective organic memory devices based on pentacene and gold nanoparticles, the very first stable organic thin film transistor based on single crystal of hexacene, rare single-walled metal–organic nanotube (MONT) with a large exterior wall diameter, the applications of metal-organic framework as optoelectronic materials, and a number of high performance materials for efficient solar energy harvesting devices such as dye-sensitized solar cells, perovskite solar cells, or organic photovoltaics. Researchers in this sector also develop stimuli-responsive materials, core-shell nanomaterials, and biomaterials. A recent report shows that a cell membrane–mimicking conducting polymer is capable to integrate biochemical and electrical stimulation to promote neural cellular behavior with great enhancement of neurite outgrowth on this conducting polymer.
Chemical Catalysis and Synthesis: Green Catalysis and Synthetic Methodology
In response to the increasingly demands of sustainable fuel and green synthetic technology, researchers in the organic synthesis and chemical catalysis divisions have strived to advance the development of cutting-edge technology for chemical transformations. The synthetic chemistry division of this sector focuses on the advances of synthetic methodology and drug discovery. The research topics under catalysis division is reconciling to catalysis relating to renewable energy. Major research directions in this sector include: (1) synthetic methodology: silyl ethers for hydroxy- directed nucleophilic acyl alkylation, microwave-assisted carbohydrate synthesis, smart fluorescent probes for bioorthogonal sugar labeling; (2) coordination chemistry: approaching unconventional catalysis via amino-NHC and carbodicarbene, unconventional porphyrin complexes for small molecule activations, engineering cytochrome P450 BM3 and alkane hydroxylase (AlkB) for alkane oxidations; (3) renewable energy catalysis: catalytic hydrogen evolution and mechanistic studies, encapsulated tricopper cluster for methane to methanol conversion, and novel catalysts for valorization of lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks.
Chemical Biology: New Material and Method towards Sustainable Health
Chemical biology division focus on the development of new material and methodology to explore the structure and function of macromolecules associated with cellular function or human diseases. The research activities are directed to unravel the underlying pathological mechanism and to derive new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Research topics in this division cover (1) development of smart biomaterials based on novel molecular principles; (2) chemical probe and advanced techniques in bio-imaging and structural biology; (3) drug discovery in cancer, infectious and neurodegenerative diseases; (4) development of structural biology techniques for infectious diseases, and (5) development of advanced proteomics strategies for biomarker discovery. The major achievements from the chemical biology group include the establishment of multiplexed quantitative strategy for membrane proteomics and post-translational modification for delineating disease mechanism and mining therapeutic targets discovery of amyloid fibrils induced from the TDP-43 in the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and development of a photocontrollable probe to induce TDP-43 aggregates in live cells, mapping of the RNA exit channel on transcribing RNA polymerase II by FRET analysis, development of nano velcro chip to capture circulating tumor cells for liquid biopsy, construction of a near-infrared- activatable enzyme platform using an up-conversion nanoparticle to remotely trigger intracellular signal transduction.
超低含量的石墨負極材料誘發特殊鋰離子嵌入現象以及低溫環境下卓越的電池效能
Ultra-low Content Induced Intercalation Anomaly of Graphite Anode Enables Superior Capacity at Sub-zero TemperaturesJ. Mater. Chem. A 2025, DOI: 10.1039/D4TA08958H
Febri Baskoro, Po-Yu Yang, Hong-Jhen Lin, Robin Chih-Hsing Wang, Hui Qi Wong, Hsinhan Tsai, Chun-Wei Pao*, Heng-Liang Wu*,Hung-Ju Yen*
The rapid advancement of energy storage has pushed Li-ion batteries (LIBs) toward higher performance, better safety, lower cost, and wider temperature adaptability. However, conventional LIBs typically underperform in extreme environments—such as ocean exploration, tropical regions, high-altitude drones, and polar expeditions—due to hindered ion conductivity, interfacial instability, and sluggish Li⁺ desolvation. While graphite is widely used as a negative electrode for its mechanical stability, conductivity, affordability, and abundance, its limited Li⁺ storage capacity (372 mA h g-1 via LiC₆ formation) restricts further development.
In this study, we introduce an intercalation anomaly enabled by ultra-low graphite content in the electrode, achieving a super-lithiation stage. By reducing graphite and increasing conductive filler, we created a highly conductive electrode capable of ultrahigh rate performance—2200 mA h g⁻¹ at 1C and 1100 mA h g⁻¹ at 30C. Remarkably, even at −20 °C, the anode retained 50% of its room temperature capacity, outperforming any other LIB anodes.
Spectroscopic analysis revealed a capacitive behavior and structural evolution leading to an intercalation limit beyond LiC₆, up to LiC₂. This structural anomaly significantly boosts capacity and enhances low-temperature performance by mitigating desolvation and diffusion limitations. These findings offer a novel perspective on graphite chemistry and open new possibilities for high-performance, anode-less LIBs in harsh environments.
隨著能源儲存技術的迅速發展，鋰離子電池正朝向更高的性能、更佳的安全性、更低的成本，以及更廣泛的操作溫度範圍邁進。然而，傳統鋰離子電池在極端環境下（如海洋探勘、熱帶地區、高空無人機與極地探險）之應用仍面臨重大挑戰，主要歸因於離子導電性受阻、界面不穩定性，以及鋰離子去溶劑化過程遲滯等問題。
石墨因具備優異的機械穩定性、導電性、成本效益與資源豐富等優勢，長期被視為鋰離子電池負極之標準材料。然而，其透過 LiC₆ 結構所達之理論鋰離子儲存容量（372 mA h g⁻¹）已成為限制其進一步應用之瓶頸。
本研究提出一種因極低石墨含量而誘發之異常插層現象，使石墨電極得以達到超鋰化階段。透過降低石墨含量並增加導電材料，成功構建出一種高導電性之電極系統，展現出卓越的高倍率性能——於1C倍率下達 2,200 mA h g⁻¹，於 30C 倍率下仍可達 1,100 mA h g⁻¹。值得一提的是，在零下負 20 °C 低溫操作下，該負極仍可維持其於室溫電容量之 50%，此表現明顯優於現今所有鋰電池負極材料。
在電池效能之外，光譜分析顯示此電極系統具有額外之電容行為與明顯之結構進化，致使鋰離子之插層能力突破傳統 LiC₆ 限制，並提升至 LiC₂。此一系統顯著地提升了電池效能，並有效改善低溫下的去溶劑化與擴散限制。此研究為碳材料之電化學機制提供了全新觀點，並為未來發展高性能、無負極鋰離子電池於極端環境中之應用奠定重要基礎。