Inside the Lab
Research here means long days at the bench, but not only that. We celebrate finished theses and published papers, take a retreat together each year, and mark SusMatLab Day every 7/11. People lend each other a hand across projects — the photographs below are what that looks like.
Lab moments
SusMatLab Day
Celebrating SusMatLab Day on 7/11 over pizza with the whole group.
In the News
Our direct synthesis of CO2-capturing MOFs from waste PET bottles was featured in the press.
Lab Retreat
Three days and two nights together at Lake Hamana.
Doctoral Seminar
Six doctoral students meet regularly to present and discuss their work — the research core of the group.
Congratulations, Dr. Chan
Kayee started our work on plastic recycling and now leaves with her doctorate.
Join Us to Shape the Future
Would you like to be part of our research on sustainable materials? See how to join.
Group photos
2025
2024
2023
Lab History
Our research group began as Prof. Shizuaki Murata’s laboratory when the Graduate School of Environmental Studies at Nagoya University was established in 2001. The group focused on the design and organic synthesis of functional and bioactive molecules. From 2007 to 2019, it operated as the Murata-Zinchenko group until Prof. Murata’s retirement. Since 2019, the group has been led by Assoc. Prof. Zinchenko as the Sustainable Materials Laboratory, with research centered on converting plastic and biomass waste into functional materials.