Yusuke Ito

Creation of mechanochemistry by spatio-temporal localization of pressure and temperature fields

Researcher

Yusuke Ito

Outline

Structural phase transitions induced by high pressure and high temperature are attracting attention, but the trade-off between the applied pressure and the cooling rate limits the creation of high-pressure materials. In this research, I aim to create a reaction field that combines ultrahigh pressure and ultrafast cooling by controlling electrons and phonons at high speeds during photo irradiation, thereby creating new materials. By expanding the material search space to the ultrahigh-pressure reaction region, I will develop mechanochemistry that enables the creation of metastable phases.

Kazuyoshi Kanamori

Development of porous soft materials via new aqueous chemistry of silicones

Researcher

Kazuyoshi Kanamori

Outline

Silicones are resinous/rubbery materials composed mainly of silicon and oxygen atoms with smaller amounts of organic groups, and can be distinguished from common plastics derived from petroleum resources. Although silicones are becoming popular as daily-use materials, their potential abilities are still largely unexplored. In order to develop silicones as a sustainable material with multifunctionality, this study targets the development of new porous soft materials based on silicones and their applications. Exploration of new aqueous solution chemistry will enable unprecedented chemical and porous structures in silicones, which will extend the possibility of silicone materials with low environmental impact.

Takuto Soma

Creation of strongly correlated nitride thin films

Researcher

Takuto Soma

Outline

The discovery of strongly correlated properties such as high-temperature superconductivity in transition-metal oxides has led to a paradigm shift that ceramics can also be used as electronic materials, and several future materials have been discovered. In this research, I create strongly correlated electrons in nitrides by applying the material synthesis technology based on high-quality thin films developed for oxides to nitrides. By creating a new paradigm of “strongly correlated nitrides” in which the characteristics of nitrides are integrated, I will explore a new land where future materials lie.

Naoki Takata

Generation of non-equilibrium microstructure and metastable phases by metal 3D printing technologies

Researcher

Naoki Takata

Outline

In the unexplored elemental combinations (combinations of Al and transition metals, Al-based multicomponent systems, and Fe-based systems), we will make an attempt to reveal the features of non-equilibrium microstructures and metastable phases produced by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) process, as a representative process of metal 3D-printing (metal additive manufacturing) technologies. We will elucidate the mechanisms of the superior mechanical properties of the L-PBF processed materials. Based on these results, we aim to understand the fundamentals of controlling the non-equilibrium microstructures and metastable phases in multi-elemental materials additive-manufactured by the L-PBF process.

Ryojun Toyoda

Photoregulation of DNA supercoiled structures using molecular machines

Researcher

Ryojun Toyoda

Outline

Topology plays a key role in delivering the full potential of DNA in biological systems. While recent development of nanotechnology has produced a bunch of functional DNA materials, there is still a big challenge to control their topological structures. This research program aims to construct a hybrid material of a double-stranded DNA and a light-driven molecular machine. The machine is expected to regulate the topological state of DNA upon irradiation of light, affording supercoiled architectures as a new family of DNA materials.

Kodai Niitsu

Exploration of mechanical functionalities emerged by local physical properties within defects

Researcher

Kodai Niitsu

Outline

Strengthening mechanism of crystalline materials has been understood based on the elastic interaction between lattice defects such as dislocations. However, once considering various physical orders localized in lattice defects, strengthening mechanism could be explained in a more generalized and systematized way. Localized physical properties are expected to influence the dynamics of the hosting lattice defect, and as a result, affect various physical properties of bulk crystals including mechanical properties. In this project, diverse and novel functionalities will be engineered by designing physical properties localized in lattice defects.

Hideki Hashimoto

Preparation of oxide glasses with hyper local ordering

Researcher

Hideki Hashimoto

Outline

We will synthesize bulk intermediate oxide glasses by applying high pressure to amorphous intermediate oxides prepared through electrochemical oxidization and precipitation methods. The final goal is to propose design scheme for novel materials by making clear the relation of physical properties and structural features of these oxide glasses using quantum beam experiments and computer simulations.

Tomoko Fujino

Oligomer-based conductive materials with mixed sequences for ultra-high conductivity

Researcher

Tomoko Fujino

Outline

Oligomer-based conductors composing of arranged multiple units offer superior tunability of their electronic structures and packing forms in single crystals. Therefore, clarifying the relationship between oligomer sequence and conductivity would help realize organic materials with unprecedented conductivities. The high crystallinity and adequate solubility of oligomer-based conductors will allow single-crystalline conductive films to be fabricated for future organic electronics.

Akiko Yagi

Creation of Novel Diamond Architectures

Researcher

Akiko Yagi

Outline

Diamond materials have attracted huge attention in the current shortage of semiconductors and the miniaturization of materials. In this project, we will create molecular diamond, a new higher-order diamondoid, and diamond hybrid architecture, in which diamond structures are highly combined with other materials, by using molecular synthesis techniques. The aim of this project is to contribute to the progress of science and industry through the creation of novel and diverse diamond architectures.

Kosei Yamauchi

Development of Molecular Photocatalytic Systems Driving Alkaline Water Splitting

Researcher

Kosei Yamauchi

Outline

The water splitting reaction driven by molecular photocatalysts has attracted considerable attention as the storage technology of renewable energy, where the water oxidation has been considered as the bottleneck. In this context, this study focuses on the development of molecular catalysts promoting photochemical hydrogen evolution from alkaline water, in which the water oxidation is rather favorable. Furthermore, this half-cell reaction will be further applied to the molecular system for solar-driven alkaline water splitting to realize the sustainable society.