MANA explores innovative research based on its unique concept of “Nanoarchitectonics”. On this page, we showcase some of the remarkable research achievements made since MANA’s establishment.
Research Results 01
Synthesis of 2D nanosheets via massive swelling and exfoliation of layered crystals
We developed 2D oxide and hydroxide nanosheets by inducing enormous swelling of the starting layered materials. The swollen crystals were disintegrated into molecularly thin elementary layers with very high 2D anisotropy. The colloidal nanosheets were applied in “material nanoarchitectonics” to develop hierarchical materials with unique, advanced functionalities.
Research Results 02
Artificial inorganic synapses achieved using atomic switch technology
We demonstrated that atomic switches can emulate the synaptic plasticity underlying memory functions in the human brain. The change in the conductance of the atomic switch is considered analogous to the change in the strength of a biological synapse which varies according to stimulating input pulses.
Research Results 03
Single-molecule-level molecular memories for ultra-high density storage
Ultrahigh-density data storage has been a crucial problem for many years; how to achieve reversible and repeatable control of a molecular bit to represent 0 and 1. We solved this long-standing problem by reversibly controlling bound and unbound states of C60 molecules at room temperature, and demonstrated actual bit operations at a bit density of 190 Tbits/in2.
Research Results 04
Pioneering development of in situ transmission electron microscope techniques for direct property measurements on nanoscale materials
State-of-the-ar t in situ analytical methods of nanomaterial property measurements inside a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM) were for the first time designed and implemented for mechanical, electrical, thermal, optical, optoelectronic, and cathodoluminescence characterizations of various nanoscale nitrides, oxides, sulfides, selenides, phosphides, and carbides.
Research Results 05
Large-scale first-principles calculations and experiments for the design of nanoscale devices
To enable first-principles electronic structure calculations using density functional theory (DFT) to be performed on systems that correspond to practical nanoscale devices and materials, we developed a world-leading linear-scaling DFT code: CONQUEST. Using CONQUEST, we conducted collaborative theory-experimental research on Si/Ge core-shell nanowires.
Research Results 06
Chiral sensing: novel chiral solvating agents for nondiastereomeric determination of enantiomeric excess
We developed a unique family of prochiral chiral solvating agents (pro-CSA) for the determination of enantiomeric excesses (ee) of a wide range of chiral analytes including carboxylic acids, alcohols, amines, and ketones using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
Research Results 07
Novel functional molecular liquids developed by alkyl-π engineering
We developed novel ultimate-soft organic materials, i.e., room-temperature functional molecular liquids composed of a π -conjugated molecular unit bearing bulky, flexible branched alkyl chains.
Research Results 08
Photothermal energy conversion with novel plasmonics and metamaterials
We developed a new class of nanomaterials/nanodevices with high photothermal conversion ef ficiency based on plasmonics and metamaterials. A new methodology for choosing appropriate compound materials was adopted to permit full-solar spectrum absorption for solar-heat generation.
