Research and development at this center, Our Aims
Our center promotes research and development aimed at maintaining the competitiveness of electronic and optical functional materials, which are the fundamental technologies that form the backbone of Japan's material innovation capabilities, and acquiring unparalleled development capabilities.
In order to realize the sustainable development of humankind, it is necessary to create material technologies aimed at transforming social systems. Reducing energy consumption by improving the efficiency of social systems is a necessary condition for sustainability, so we will proceed with the development of semiconductors and optical materials that can reduce energy consumption through innovative improvements in efficiency. Additionally, in order to build systems that bring safety and security to people's lives, we will improve the sensitivity and reliability of sensor materials such as biosensors, chemical sensors, and infrared sensors, and promote the non-toxicity of these materials.
Electronics
Electronics is a very broad technical field. One of the main players is semiconductors. In particular, we are conducting research and development on semiconductors used in power control and sensor development. We are proceeding with studies to improve the functionality and reliability of electronics by finding the most suitable semiconductor material for each purpose, or by increasing its quality and gaining reliability.
We also conduct research and development on materials that make up electronic circuits, that is, materials used in components such as capacitors and ICs such as memory elements. Depending on the application, it can take a variety of shapes, including ceramics and nanometer-order thin films. We aim to contribute to the miniaturization and reliability improvement of electronic devices.
The research and development that is actually being carried out is shown below.
Semiconductors for Power-electronics
We are developing wide band gap semiconductors for high voltage power control.
Crystal growth and device fabrication of wide bandgap oxides such as gallium oxide
Group in Charge：Ultra-wide Bandgap Semiconductors Group
Power electronics application of semiconductor diamond
Group in Charge：Ultra-wide Bandgap Semiconductors Group
Power electronics applications of nitride semiconductors
Group in Charge：Next-generation Semiconductor Group
Dielectric/ferroelectric thin film
We are proceeding with the development of thin film materials with the aim of applying them to nonvolatile memory devices, etc.
Search for new ferroelectric thin film materials
Group in Charge: Electro-ceramics Group
Construction of a high-throughput system for exploring dielectric and ferroelectric materials
Group in Charge: Nano Electronics Device Materials Group
Development of MEMS resonators, etc.
Group in Charge: Ultra-wide Bandgap Semiconductors Group
Using light to speed up electronic devices
Improving the performance and miniaturization of light-emitting and light-receiving elements
Search for new ferroelectric thin film materials
Group in Charge: Semiconductor Epitaxial Structures Group
Energy Saving
The biggest challenge is how to use electricity effectively. The challenge is to reduce heat generation from electronic and electrical equipment, or to allow equipment to operate without cooling down.
- A large portion of electricity is consumed by lighting, producing light. At this center, our goal is to improve the efficiency of lighting by emitting light without emitting heat; in other words, our goal is to create a light source that does not get hot.
- Another key player in energy conservation is semiconductors. ``When it is on, the electrical resistance is extremely low, and when it is off, the leakage current is extremely low,'' thereby suppressing power from turning into heat. Additionally, electronic equipment is equipped with a cooling device to prevent the equipment from malfunctioning due to rising temperatures. Power consumption can also be reduced by reducing the amount of power required for cooling, that is, by making electronic devices work more stably at high temperatures.
- Furthermore, it improves power efficiency in parts such as capacitors that make up electronic circuits by suppressing heat generation and ensuring stable operation against temperature changes.
The research and development that is actually being carried out is shown below.
Material development for renewable energy and new energy
We are developing high-performance materials for solar power generation and hydrogen utilization.
Search for semiconductors for thin film solar cells that do not contain toxic elements
Group in charge：Electro-ceramics Group
Group in charge：Optical Single Crystals Group
Ionics materials for hydrogen energy utilization
Group in charge：Electro-ceramics Group
Development of materials to improve the efficiency of light sources and lighting
Optical material development for high-power light sources
Group in charge：Optical Single Crystals Group
Group in charge：Optical Ceramics Group
Group in charge：Polycrystalline Optical Material Group
Phosphor development for high efficiency lighting
Group in charge：Optical Single Crystals Group
Group in charge：Polycrystalline Optical Material Group
Group in charge：Advanced Phosphor Group
Material development for power electronics utilization
Improving the performance of diamond and oxide semiconductors
Group in charge：Ultra-wide Bandgap Semiconductors Group
Power electronics applications of nitride semiconductors
Group in charge：Next-generation Semiconductor Group
Development of heat-resistant and high-strength electronics components
Group in charge：Electro-ceramics Group
Resource saving
Among electronic and optical materials, many functions are achieved through the use of rare elements. Extracting and refining rare metals has a large environmental impact and consumes a lot of energy. There are also geopolitical risks involved. Therefore, reducing the amount of rare metals used and creating highly functional elements and devices using easily available elements is an important initiative for resource conservation.
Of course, reusing materials or recycling them is also an important initiative. Therefore, we are developing elemental technologies necessary for recovering resources from electronic components that are no longer in use.
The research and development that is actually being carried out is shown below.
Technology development for resource circulation and reuse
Development of reuse technology for fine ceramics
Group in charge：Electro-ceramics Group
Material development for resource recovery and recycling
Group in charge：Environmental Circulation Composite Materials Group
Development of elemental substitution technology for resource circulation and reuse
Search for new non-toxic narrow gap materials
Group in charge：Electro-ceramics Group
Group in charge：Optical Single Crystals Group
Quantum technology
Quantum technology is a technology that explicitly utilizes behavior consistent with quantum mechanics, such as the wave properties of electrons and the particle properties of light. Particularly in recent years, quantum technologies such as single photon generation, which emit photons, the smallest unit of light, one by one, have been attracting attention.
We are conducting research and development to apply these physical phenomena to quantum cryptographic communications, quantum sensors, etc. These include the development of materials that exhibit noticeable quantum effects, and the development of techniques for applying quantum effects to engineering through the development of means that enable measurement and detection of quantum effects.
The research and development that is actually being carried out is shown below.
Improving the performance of quantum functional materials
Improving the performance of quantum functional materials
Development of quantum materials that do not require an extremely low temperature environment
Group in charge：Quantum Photonics Group
Improving the efficiency of quantum functions by improving crystal quality
Group in charge：Semiconductor Defect Design Group
Environmental conservation, safety, and security
Maintaining health and creating an environment where people can maintain their health brings peace of mind to people's lives. For this reason, we are developing diagnostic technology to understand people's physical condition and sensors to detect harmful substances in the living environment.
Sensors to ensure safety are also important technologies, such as hydrogen gas detection sensors for a hydrogen society, radiation detection for security and medical purposes, and sensors for autonomous driving.
Additionally, it is important to remove hazards from the environment. For this reason, we will also promote the development of materials for a safe environment, such as devices that do not contain toxic elements and adsorbents that remove harmful elements and substances from water and air.。
The research and development that is actually being carried out is shown below.
Capture of molecules/substances
Development of highly sensitive environmental measurement sensors
Group in charge：Electro-ceramics Group
Group in charge：Nanophotonics Group
Development of highly sensitive medical sensors and biosensors
Group in charge：Electro-ceramics Group
Group in charge：Nanophotonics Group
Radiation detection
Development of highly sensitive scintillator
Group in charge：Optical Single Crystals Group
Elimination of toxic and hazardous substances
Development of recovery and removal materials such as high-performance adsorbents
Group in charge：Environmental Circulation Composite Materials Group
Decomposition of harmful substances by light and chemical action
Group in charge：Electro-ceramics Group
Group in charge：Next-generation Semiconductor Group
Non-toxic materials
Development of materials that do not use harmful elements through element substitution
Group in charge：Electro-ceramics Group