- Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells that differentiate and then proliferate in various organs
- High temperature superconductive wire to be used in electric power transmission
- Counteracting a flu pandemic crisis
- Fourth generation optical disc to follow Blu-ray discs
- Generating ultra-thin films at the molecular level
- Fundamental regenerative medicine technology: Generating cell sheets
- Discovery and clinical application of the gene responsible for lung cancer
- Clarifying the function of substances that recognize pathogens and activate the immunity system
- Transparent semiconductor from common materials
- Finding a new family of high temperature superconducting materials
- Development of highly functional and high performance light-emitting element originating in blue
- Organic synthesis method without use of organic solvents
- Plastic optical fiber that allows High-speed, large-capacity communication
- Enabling extra-large capacity hard disks
Fabrication of nanostructured materials with photo-functionalities via self-assembly
Takayoshi Sasaki (Managing Director, National Institute for Materials Science)
Research area: Development of Advanced Nanostructured Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage (FY2002-2007)
Development of 2D nanomaterials with molecule-level thickness
Drastically reducing environmental load through reducing the energy demands of electronic devices and realization of antifouling nanocoating.
Research Overview
A two-dimensional crystal made of titanium oxide or other substances with a thickness of approximately 1 nm has been synthesized through a unique process known as layer exfoliation. A technique to create ultra-thin film has been developed, by which nanosheets are layered one by one in an aqueous solution using wet processes. Its applications are diverse, including photocatalytic self-cleaning coating and dielectric film that functions at nano-level thickness.
Impact of Research Achievements
■ The controllability and orderliness of nanostructures comparable to those of artificial lattice thin films have been attained through a simple, low-cost wet process.
■ The performance of photocatalytic film has been assessed using test vehicles with the aim of applying it to the windows of Shinkansen trains. Application in antifouling coating and others can also be expected.
■ Research on dielectric film has grown into joint research activities with semiconductor manufacturers.
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| nanosheet colloid suspension nanosheet (AFM image) | photocatalytic film | dielectric film |