| Project Title | Japanese Researcher |
Position and Institution | Abstract of Research Project | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU Researcher |
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| 1 | NOVACAM: Novel cheap and Abundant Materials for catalytic biomass conversion |
Wataru Ueda | Professor, the Catalysis Research Center, Hokkaido University |
The research project aims at the development of novel catalyst technology based on the use of abundant elements in catalyst formulations for the conversion of biomass to chemicals and fuels. The project addresses the challenging objective to avoid the use of critical elements in catalysts by applying a catalysis by design approach, integrating the complete chain of knowledge from fundamental concepts (theoretical studies of reaction mechanism and in-situ spectroscopic studies) in the EU team and via advanced catalyst synthesis protocols involving self-assembly approaches in the Japan team. The complementary research work program between the two teams will be able to develop new multi-functionalized solid catalysts consisting of abundant elements that meet the mechanistic and active site requirements for the underlying chemistry to valorise biomass. Achievement in this research will promote the use of abundant elements in catalysis of biomass conversion and the shift of chemical resources from petroleum to biomass. |
| Emiel Hensen | Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology (the Netherlands) |
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| 2 | HARFIR: Heusler Alloy Replacement For Iridium |
Koki Takanashi | Professor and Deputy Director, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University |
The purpose of this project is to develop rare metal-free antiferromagnetic Heusler alloy films to replace antiferromagnetic IrMn films which have been widely used in spintronic devices including read heads in hard disk drives. The Japan side works on the preparation of epitaxial thin films, the measurements of fundamental properties and structural/magnetic characterization by neutron and synchrotron x-ray beams; the EU side works on the material's design by theoretical calculation and the preparation of polycrystalline thin films. The fabrication and characterization of device structures are made jointly by Japan and EU sides. Ir-free antiferromagnetic Heusler alloy films consisting only of ubiquitous elements will be developed by joint collaboration in this project, leading to the reduction of Ir consumption. |
| Atsufumi Hirohata | Reader, Department of Electronics, The University of York (United Kingdom) |
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| 3 | IRENA: Indium replacement by single-walled carbon nanotube thin films |
Shigeo Maruyama | Professor, School of Engineering The University of Tokyo |
The purpose of this study is to develop high-performance carbon nanotube (CNT) thin-films to completely replace ITO and IGZO that contain indium, a rare metal. Specifically, Japanese groups study the growth mechanism and its control in the supported-catalyst CNT growth, purification of CNT materials, and thin-film device integration. EU groups study the growth and control in the floating-catalyst CNT growth and in situ observation to understand the growth mechanism. It is expected by engaging both teams complementarily that the performance and reliability of CNT thin film devices will be improved on the basis of full understanding of the physical properties. As a consequence, it will lead to development of CNT thin films that can be used in the long term not only in conventional flat-panel display industries, but also in flexible electronics that is expected to become a mega market in the future. |
| Esko I. Kauppinen | Professor, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University School of Science (Finland) |
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