Division of Materials Research

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The Division of Materials Research（ DM） carries out research on various materials and substances, their properties, production processes, structural control, and the evaluation of their performance toward many applications, and also promotes development to design devides to incorporate these materials into device.
In addition to research on the improvement of industrial materials, the utilization of resources, and the optimization of energy sources, the DM also promotes cutting-edge research on novel materials and nanomaterials that are expected to be useful in future energy systems, energy-saving devices, and advanced materials systems from a long-term perspective.

Director of the Division : OSADA, Minoru
Vice-director of the Division : NAKANISHI, Kazuki

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Materials Physics Section

The Materials Physics Section carries out fundamental and applied research on dielectrics, magnetic materials, superconductors, ionic conductors, optical properties, catalytic properties, and other material functions. Research on material properties that are necessary to achieve new devices through the enhancement of properties and the discovery of new functions is also performed.

Computational Fluid Dynamics

We are working on computational fluid dynamics(CFD) to analyze fluid phenomena by computer simulation. In particular, we focus on the CFD of multiphase flow in which gas, liquid, and solid phases coexist and flow while interacting with each other. Multiphase flow is intimately related to crystal growth. In addition to the simulation method used to analyze the convection, diffusion, and mixing of several kinds of liquid at an interface, we carry out simulation of the interaction between liquid and solid particles and among liquids, bubbles, and particles. We are also involved in experimental research on the development of a method of controlling the movement of disperse phases such as particles and bubbles using vortices in a liquid.

Simulation of mixing of density-stratified fluid caused by vortex ring

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Professor

UCHIYAMA, Tomomi

Vice - Director

Project :

Development of Advanced Simulation Method for Flow Problems and Utilization of Natural Flow Energy

Assistant Professor

TAKAMURE, Kotaro

Project :

Efficiency enhancement for crystal growth process utilizing fluid convection and mixing behavior

Visiting Faculty

Visiting Associate Professor

DEGAWA,Tomohiro

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Porous Materials Chemistry

Based on the liquid-phase synthesis utilizing polymerization-induced phase separation, we are developing various porous materials ranging from ceramics, organic polymers to organic-inorganic hybrids. The materials with a controlled porous structure are applied to separation media, adsorbents, catalyst supports and battery electrodes. We aim at revealing the influence of pore property on each functionality by interdisciplinary researches with analytical chemistry, organosynthesis and electrochemistry in order to contribute to the development in energy and environmental fields.

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Professor

NAKANISHI, Kazuki

Vice-director of the Division

Project :

Structural Control of Porous Materials via Liquid-Phase Processes and their Applications

Designated Associate Professor

HASEGAWA, George

Project :

Architectural Design of Porous Materials and Their Electrochemical Applications

Researcher

LU, Xuanming

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Nanostructure Analysis and Design

Functional properties of various ceramic materials are often related to the atomic structures and electronic states in the lattice mismatch regions such as the surfaces, grain boundaries, and interfaces. We are attempting to develop new functional ceramic materials including new ceramic processing techniques from the viewpoint of controlling the lattice mismatch region using the nanoscale analysis technique of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.

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Professor

YAMAMOTO, Takahisa

Project :

Development of Ceramic Materials by Controlling the Atomic/Electronic Structures at Nano Scale

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Theoretical Chemistry

My group is involved in the development of machine learning algorithms for chemical data, the automatic design of molecules using structure‒property relationships, parallel algorithms and programs for material simulations on massively parallel computers, and new quantum-chemical theory for molecules and solids
（ neural networks, graph theory, graphics processing units, CUDA, density matrices, Green's function）.

Ab initio study of the photoabsorption and charge separation process on the dye-sensitized semiconductor surface.
A neural net learns the predicted structure-property relations and suggests better dyes.

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Associate Professor

YASUDA, Koji

Project :

Quantum Chemistry and Chemoinformatics,
Methodology Development and Material Design

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Materials Design Section

This Section promotes researches of material design with a focus on the microstructures of materials used
in environments, electronics, mechanics and energy-related fields. Toward the aim of improving the performance and making major strides in terms of enhancements, the MD performs advanced studies through new compositions, novel composites and nanomaterials from the perspective of two- and three-dimensional and/or nanometer-scaled structures.

Environmental Materials Engineering

Material engineering for environmental preservation can contribute to reduce resources and an energy risk as well as to bring environmental depollution. Especially, our research concerns physics and chemistry of nanocrystals such CeO₂ and ZrO₂ in automotive exhaust treatment and their reaction dynamics simulation. Our unit has been concerned with an iLIM project（ MEXT） as a project leader for these years.

Nanoparticles-composite material for environmental depollution （automotive catalyst）
and its microstructure with Ce and Zr elemental mapping in nanometer scale by electron microscopy

Honeycomb-type ceramics for engine exhaust treatment and noble metal/CeO₂ nanoparticle catalysts
(developed by present labs)

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Professor

OZAWA, Masakuni Lab

Project :

Nano-Crystals and Their Application to Environmental Pollution Control

Designated Professor

HIRAIWA, Atsushi

Project :

Development of wide bandgap semiconductor power devices and their gate insulators

Assistant Professor

NAKAMURA, Maki Lab

Project :

A study on exhaust gas purification system for diesel vehicles

Assistant Professor

HATTORI, Masatomo Lab

Project :

Development of functional composite materials for environmental puriﬁcation

Visiting Faculty

Visiting Professor

KAWARADA, Hiroshi Lab

Project :

Research on diamond and wide bandgap semiconductor

Visiting Professor

TAKAHASHI, Seiji

Visiting Associate Professor

KATSUI, Hirokazu

Visiting Faculty

YOKOTA, Koji

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Nano Ionics Design Engineering

All-solid-state batteries (SSBs) have been expected as next generation rechargeable batteries with high energy density. Our research Gp. has focused on science on interfacial ion dynamics around the homo/hetero interface. Our recent target is sulfide-based, oxide-based, and fluorine shuttle-type SSBs, which are financially supported by NEDO, JST-ALCA, and Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas “Interface Ionics”.

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Professor

IRIYAMA, Yasutoshi

Project :

R&Ds of Advanced Solid State Ionics Devices and Science on Interfacial Ion Dynamics

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Professor

MIZUGUCHI, Masaki Lab

Project :

Development of functional energy materials based on magnetic materials

Visiting Faculty

Visiting Associate Professor

MIYAMACHI, Toshio

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Materials Processing Section

In addition to research related to material production processes, the Materials Processing Section performs research on mechanical energy conversion devices that make use of high-performance thermal-insulation and shielding materials, thermoelectric power-generating and dielectric elastomers, and other such materials, as well as research on, for example, high-efficiency hydrogen production, combustion, and
power-generation processes.

Functional Nanomaterials

Nanomaterials with controlled size, morphology, and dimensions have been emerging as important new materials owing to their unique properties. In particular, two-dimensional（2D） nanosheets, which possess atomic or molecular thickness, have opened up new possibilities in exploring fascinating properties and novel devices. The Materials Processing Section is working on the creation of inorganic 2D nanosheets and the exploration of their novel functionalities in electronic and energy applications.