Our Research Achievements
2024.09.05 Update
NIMS takes a long-term view of research that builds the foundations for new materials and materials science. A great deal of work has to be done before a groundbreaking material or substance that we develop can be used in practical applications and can contribute to society. Not only does a material need superior functions and characteristics, but it must also be durable, safe, and reliable to use. On this page, we introduce some of our research achievements that found practical application after long gestation period.
Sialon phosphors
Excellent durability and heat resistance while achieving high efficiency
Developed by NIMS, sialon phosphors efficiently emit light when irradiated by blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and offer excellent durability and heat resistance. They are already being used in white LED lighting applications, replacing fluorescent lamps that use environmentally harmful mercury. This was a much-anticipated advance in less environmentally impactful lighting. White LEDs are also used in backlights for liquid crystal TVs, where high brightness can lead to bright color and high-quality images.
Next-generation superalloys
Successful development of ultra-heat-resistant materials in collaboration with private companies, contributing reduced greenhouse gas emissions
Using materials the latest design technology to predict the high-temperature properties and microstructure of materials, NIMS has successfully developed various ultra-heat-resistant materials. In particular, single crystal superalloys mainly composed of nickel (Ni) have already been commercialized as turbine blades for jet engines through collaboration with private companies. Through increased efficiency, this innovation can achieve an annual reduction in fuel costs of approximately 100 million yen per international flight, while also contributing to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. These alloys are expected to find application in high-efficiency gas turbines in the future.
Development of dysprosium-free magnets
High-strength magnets free of a scarce rare earth element
High-strength (high-coercivity) neodymium magnets are commonly used in motors for automobiles, but to ensure that coercivity is maintained when hot they usually contain the rare earth element dysprosium (chemical symbol: Dy). However, Dy is very scarce and comes from limited geographical areas, so there has been a demand for high-performance permanent magnets with equivalent coercivity that are free from Dy. Through analysis and control of material nanostructures, we have been able to develop a high-coercivity permanent magnet without using Dy.
FMS alloy seismic dampers
Protecting skyscrapers from major earthquakes
When the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred, long-period ground motion was widely reported by media outlets as far from the epicenter as Osaka, causing skyscrapers to sway for long periods of time. To prevent damage caused by this phenomenon, many new buildings are equipped with seismic dampers. However, once a building experiences a massive earthquake, the performance of its dampers degrades, requiring them to be replaced through large-scale civil engineering work.
NIMS has developed a shape-memory FMS alloy highly resistant to the fatigue caused by repeated deformation. In addition to its ability to absorb external stress, the fatigue strength of this alloy is 10 times higher than that of conventional damper materials. Because of these advantages, the alloy has been integrated into the seismic dampers used in some buildings, which require no maintenance or replacement. This is an example of NIMS’ efforts to protect buildings from major earthquakes.
(Photo : TAKENAKA CORPORATION)
HAMR ultra-high-density recording media
An ultrahigh-density recording technology vital to an advanced information society
Data centers established around the world store huge amounts of digital information primarily using hard disk drives (HDDs). According to one estimate, these data centers will account for 10% of total global power consumption within a decade. More energy-efficient, higher density data storage technologies are therefore needed. NIMS succeeded in developing the world’s first HAMR (heat-assisted magnetic recording) media—a ultrahigh-density recording technology—using a new FePt material. HAMR HDDs are already in practical use, supporting our advanced information society.
*The picture above is not of a HAMR HDD, but is intended to give you a general idea of its appearance.
Bismuth-based superconductors
A potential key to making power transmission significantly more efficient
The 1988 discovery of a bismuth-based high-temperature superconducting material by the National Research Institute for Metals (a predecessor of NIMS) surprised the global scientific community.
The electrical resistance of superconducting materials abruptly drops to zero when they are cooled to their critical temperatures. In 1986, Swiss and German scientists jointly discovered a material capable of superconductivity at 35 K (-238°C)—a temperature significantly higher than previously known critical temperatures. They won the Nobel Prize in Physics for this discovery. Although a number of different high-temperature superconductors have since been discovered, the bismuth-based superconductor NIMS developed is different from them in chemical composition and has a very high critical temperature of over 100 K (-173°C), suggesting that superconductivity could occur at temperatures higher than previously reported.
This bismuth-based superconducting material may potentially be used to develop resistance-free power transmission cables and very strong electromagnets, and testing is underway to put it into practical use.
Related information
For information about our latest research and information related to researchers, please check the pages listed below.