He was a prolific writer of a large number of commentaries, including Sidrei Taharot, a Gemara-style work on the Talmudic tractates Kelim and Oholot.
At the age of sixteen, the Rebbe had already formulated a spectacular idea: he would compose a "gemara" of a sort on the mishnayos of Seder Taharos, as there is no Talmud Bavli on those tractates.
While there he visited what was then the largest aquarium in the world (in Naples), and after studying the different sea creatures, concluded that the original blue color for the Techeiles was extracted from the secretion of the common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis; Hebrew: דְּיוֹנוּן).
Legend has it that on one of his visits to Rome, he succeeded in persuading the Vatican to allow him a quick glimpse of the Holy Vessels of the Beis HaMikdosh, to match his findings with the techeiles on the priestly garments.
He published several books on the topic, such as S'funei T'munei Chol, P'sil T'cheles, and Ein HaT'cheles, and succeeded in influencing many Gedolim with his work.