Akiko Kobayashi (chemist)
Akiko Kobayashi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1943 Tokyo, Japan |
| Occupation | Chemist |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Known for | Creation of Ni(tmdt)₂, the first single-component molecular metal |
Professor is a distinguished Japanese chemist originating from Tokyo, recognized for creating Ni(tmdt)₂, the inaugural single-component molecular metal worldwide.
Biography
Born in 1943 to parents engaged in music and physics, Kobayashi completed both her Bachelor of Science and Doctorate degrees in Chemistry at the University of Tokyo in 1967 and 1972, respectively. Beginning her academic career as a research associate in 1972, she progressed to the position of full professor by 1999 at the same institution. In 2006, she was honored with the title of Professor emeritus at Tokyo and subsequently joined the faculty of Nihon University.
In recognition of her pioneering research on molecular conductors and the synthesis of a single-component organic metal, Kobayashi was awarded the 2009 L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science. The compound Ni(tmdt)₂ exhibits distinctive characteristics such as metallic conductivity close to absolute zero temperature and paramagnetic behavior below ambient temperature. This breakthrough has paved the way for developing new materials incorporating nickel, zinc, and copper analogues with significant potential applications.
Her accolades also include the Crystallographic Society of Japan Award received in 1998 and the Complex Chemical Society Award granted in 2006.