NIMS: A Unique Research Institute!

World-changing cialon phosphors for lighting

The energy-saving key, LED. Previously, white LED bulbs were made by covering a blue LED chip with a yellow phosphor to produce white light. However, this produced a bluish-white light, which did not become very popular as lighting. To produce a natural white, a red component was lacking. NIMS developed a phosphor that emits red, leading to the creation of natural white LEDs, which have now become popular worldwide. NIMS-developed "world standard cialon phosphors" have changed the lighting illuminating people's lives.

Earthquake-resistant FMS alloy dampers for skyscrapers

During the Great East Japan Earthquake, the long seismic waves caused a high-rise building in distant Osaka to sway for a long time. To counter this, many modern buildings incorporate metal dampers. However, after a major earthquake, their performance degrades, necessitating extensive work for replacement. NIMS has developed a shape memory alloy with high fatigue strength that can withstand repeated deformations. Additionally, because its fatigue strength is ten times higher than conventional materials, it has been commercialized as a maintenance-free damper material for buildings. NIMS protects buildings from massive earthquakes.

Ultra-high-density recording media, HAMR Media, supporting the backbone of an advanced information society

Data centers store the world's digital information, with hard disk drives (HDD) playing a central role. Continuing to use current HDDs, it is predicted that in ten years, data centers will consume 10% of the world's total power consumption. To save energy, it is necessary to store more information in a smaller area. NIMS has successfully pioneered the development of high-density recording media using the new material FePt, known as Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) media. This HAMR media is already being integrated into HDDs and is active in advanced information societies.Notes: The HDD drive and media images are for illustrative purposes only. They do not show HAMR media-equipped images.

Revolutionizing the way electricity is transmitted with bismuth-based superconducting materials

In 1988, 'bismuth-based superconducting materials' discovered at NIMS (then the Institute of Metal Materials Technology) shocked researchers worldwide. Superconductivity is a phenomenon where a material's electrical resistance drops to zero at a certain temperature. In 1986, a Swiss researcher discovered a material that exhibited superconductivity at 35K (-238°C), previously only occurring at extremely low temperatures, earning the Nobel Prize in Physics. Since then, several high-temperature superconducting substances have been discovered, but the 'bismuth-based superconducting materials' developed by NIMS, made of a different combination of elements and capable of superconducting states at temperatures over 100K (-173°C), demonstrated that high-temperature superconducting materials exist far beyond what researchers had imagined. Bismuth-based superconducting materials are still being explored as materials for lossless power transmission cables and super-strong electromagnets, with practical tests already underway.

Innovating materials research and development through integration with data

NIMS is focusing on data-driven materials research, conducting efficient and rapid research and development by utilizing material data. For example, the Materials Data Platform DICE offers high-quality data and applications accessible to external users.

The key to enhancing NIMS' research capabilities is the individual researchers' freedom to explore

NIMS produces world-changing research outcomes. One secret is the time allotted for researchers to engage in free-thinking research. At NIMS, 50% of a researcher's annual total work time is allowed for free-thinking research, enabling them to fully pursue their interests. By enhancing individual research capabilities through free-thinking research, NIMS achieves high performance in its mission.

Shared facilities are also available to external users!

As part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology's 'Advanced Material Research Infrastructure' project, NIMS' state-of-the-art shared facilities support research and development for researchers from domestic and international universities, companies, and public institutions.

Corporate Collaboration Center

Under the belief that 'materials are only truly valuable when used,' NIMS emphasizes contributing to the industry through collaboration with companies. Based on medium- to long-term roadmaps, we are advancing strategic and sustainable collaborations. Companies like SoftBank and L'Oreal Japan are working with NIMS to develop next-generation technologies.

Materials Open Platform (MOP)

NIMS, as the core, forms an 'open platform' by industry. By collaborating on common aspects of multi-company business through a 'horizontal collaboration' system, we strengthen our innovation creation capabilities. Several open platforms are currently in operation.