Spin Caloritronics Group

  This group conducts research on "spin caloritronics" based on the fusion of spintronics and thermoelectric/thermal transport properties. We are developing new physical phenomena and functionalities driven by the concerted effects of electron transport, magnetism (spin), phonon, ferroelectricity, etc., and materials science to improve their energy conversion efficiency by introducing technologies and knowledge from interdisciplinary fields beyond the conventional framework of spin caloritronics. We aim to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by breaking new ground in spin caloritronics using our uniquely developed active thermal measurement techniques and by bringing it to fruition in thermal management technologies.

  Our research targets range from magnetic thin films to magnetoresistive devices and permanent magnets, as well as originally designed magnetic hybrid materials. By pioneering thermal energy conversion, control, and transfer phenomena and functionalities unique to these systems, we will extend the potential applications of spintronics, previously limited to magnetic memories and information transmission/computation, to energy device technologies. Main experimental techniques used in our research are thin-film fabrication techniques including the sputtering method, bulk material synthesis techniques including the spark plasma sintering method, measurements of magnetic/electric/thermal transport phenomena, and pump-and-probe optical measurements.