Environment-Benign Materials

We are focusing on “Ubiquitous Elemental Materials”which promotes effective use of natural resources,and “Green Elemental Materials” which seeks to limit the use of materials harmful to humans and the environment for our research and development. In addition, our research into alternative materials has lead us to propose designs for new materials and processing technologies. We are designing materials which have energy-saving properties and have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by controlly thermal conductivity and improving lightweight properties.

Materials for Energy Applications

In order for mankind to create “sustainable society” the strain on the environment from the production, distribution and consumption of energy must be reduced, and natural resources need to be preserved and used more efficiently. Advanced ceramics science and engineering technology are attracting attention as potential solutions for these problems.
【Research on energy generation】
Our advanced processing techniques for ceramics materials enable us to develop highly efficient solar cell and hydrogen permeation membranes.
【Research on energy conversion】
Our precision techniques for controlling the unique chemical reactivity of ceramic materials can be applied to design energy conversion materials and devices, such as fuel cells, solar cells and lithium ion batteries.

Biomaterials

The deterioration our bones, the support framework of our bodies, can lead to a variety of ailments as we age, and the ever increasing elderly population makes the need for effective bone regenerative treatments all the more important. We are developing a new intellectual platform where next generation materials such as ceramics, polymers and metals are integrated to produce hybrid biomaterials. We are especially focused on developing nano-tuning technology to control surface structures and chemical states at a nano-level and we are conducting research to study the underlying structure and function of the living body in order to stimulate cells to produce new tissue and aid in the development of new biomaterials.

Next-Generation Materials

Building a safe, sustainable society requires the development of a new class of technologically advanced environmentally-friendly materials. We are advancing the field of material sciences in the areas of structure, physical properties and theory as well as exploring high pressure and temperature research. We seek to create a new generation of materials and devices based on hetero structures in the nano-size realm including ballistic conduction with nano-junction contact surfaces, excitontype superconductivity, and fuel cells incorporating bimetallic catalysts. We are using entirely new compounds in our research to develop next generation materials and we have made progress in demonstrating the irregular arrangement of atoms through direct observation using advanced X-ray diffraction, energy filtering, and abberation corrected ultra-high resolution scanning electron microscopy.

Research Project for Young materials Researchers (FY2012)

Project1: Novel hybrid materials for substrate of power devices

【Objective】
Our research objective is to use thin-film ceramic manufacturing techniques to create insulated circuit boards with a high degree of heat conductivity. Using PHPS we aim to develop techniques to control the production and thickness of ultra-fine amorphous silica insulation film used in circuit boards. We also aim to improve adhesion of the silica film-metal circuit board contact surface and reduce pores in the surface by using organic molecules. We are also working to optimize the combination of amino acids , molecular weights, and sites for introduction.
【Research】
Using PHPS, we are developing a technique to synthesize amorphous silica film insulation at room temperature, and to control film thickness. Organic molecules are being designed to improve silica synthesis and also to enhance the level of affinity between silica film and metal surfaces. We are also using peptides made of a combination of tyrosine and serine with hydroxyl groups to optimize molecular weight and introduction site. The effectivness of introducing peptides is evaluated by examining for the presence of a void and measuring the smoothness of the silica surface layer. Dielectric strength and thermal conductivity of the composite circuit board are then measured.

Project2: New thermoelectric materials based on magnetic and electric domain controlling

【Objective】
The development of materials which are capable of converting naturally occuring sources of energy, such as light and heat, into electrical energy is particularly urgent because of recent energy concerns. With this research project, in which performance improvements for thermoelectric materials were measured according to the Wiedermann-Franz Law, we propose a new approach to manufacturing thermoelectric materials with improved conversion efficiency by controlling magnetic and ferroelectric domain structure in magneto-ferroelectric materials.
【Research】
The most important aims of this research are the investigation of the relationships between the high thermoelectric properties, such as a high electron conductivity and low thermal conductivity, and electric/ magnetic domain structure in ferroelectric materials composed of magnetic elements. Our main research subjects, that should be clarified, are as follows,
1. Relationship between thermoelectric properties and Fe concentration in BiTiO3:Fe
2. Thermoelectric properties of Magneto-Ferroelectric material: BiFeO3

Project3: Spin transport materials based on nano structural analyses

【Objective】
Our objective is to develop magnetoelectric materials with helical magnetic structures and magnetic tunnel junctions with spin-polarized current mechanisms which will lead to the development of energy-saving-spintronics devices. We perform systematic and efficient research based on advanced nano structural analyses and ultra high- sensitivity physical property measurements.
【Research】
In the development of magnetoelectric matertials, we use scanning electron microscopy to conduct crystal structure and magnetic structure analyses for synthesized magnetic transition metal oxides. Using analysis of electic field observations, we aim to develop materials with magnetic states that change under electric field-induced spin currents. We also aim to establish the necessary conditions for the thin-film manfacturing process and target material design specifications by conducting nano-structure analyses and electrical conductivity evaluations as we develop techniques for generating spin-polarized currents using magnetic metal oxide thin film. With this we seek to demonstrate that magnetic thinfilm insulation can be used to generate spin polarized currents in conditions above room temperature.

Project4: Surface manipulation of materials for controlling bio-interface

【Objective】
One of the keys in developing new types of highperformance biomaterials is to control reactions of proteins and cells with their surface. Thus far, materials used in bone reconstruction have been phenomenologically developed. Comuptational science is critical for the development of new biomaterials and is being used to calculate optimal structural designs, an essential part of improving the interaction between materials and the living organism.
【Research】
Calcium silicate ceramics have excellent biocompatibility, and are fine tuned using computational science at a nano-level to create a favorable energy state for the adherance of proteins to material surfaces. Specifically, phosphates are introduced into calcium silicate to create the specific energy state. Molecular orbital energy level and electron density simulations are conducted and computational sceince is used to quantify surface interaction effects seen in biomaterial science.

Project5: Scaffold materials for 3D-cell aggregate preparation

【Objective】
The objective of this research is to develop a novel scaffold material to create a 3-D matrix for cells involved in bone formation. The scaffold material enhances tissue regeneration and is designed to biodegrade upon interasction with cultured cells.
【Research】
In culture hybridization of the peptides which react with and sever proteases produced by osteoblasts is attempted to inhibit the breakdown of the culture materials. However nonwoven-structured materials can be incorporated into the design to create a 3-D culture media. Because mechanical properties and fiber size are believed to influence cell function, an analysis of the dynamics of cell-fiber interaction will aid in developing an optimal fiber matrix for culturing.