Greeting message
The Department of Advanced Functional Materials Research is composed of six research projects, i.e., Functional Polymer, Advanced Catalyst, Spin-polarized positron, Semiconductor Radiation, Environmental Polymer and Biocompatible Materials Research Projects. We aim to create novel high-performance functional materials and to develop advanced materials evaluation techniques, which cannot be established by the other methods, by the multiple and complementary utilization of the world-class quantum-beam facilities for ion-, electron-, and neutron beams and g- and X-rays at QST. Especially, with the advancement of generation, control, and application of quantum beams, novel functional materials for innovative power generation/energy storage system, energy-saving electronic devices, regenerative medical devices, and resource recovery system will be developed; these innovative materials should contribute to the national policies, “clean and economical energy system”, “society of health and longevity”, and “stable supply of domestic mineral resources”, respectively.
In the R&D of power generation/energy storage systems, the high performance polymer electrolyte membranes and advanced catalysts, utilized in platinum free (non-noble metal catalyst) type fuel cells and metal-air secondary batteries are in going. For innovative energy-saving electronic devices, we are conducting the controlled creation of single photon sources and its devices and the control of electron spin current on graphene sheets, and development of spin-polarized positron beams as an advanced electro-spin analytical technique. Furthermore, novel functional cell culture materials can be prepared as a regenerative medical device by quantum beam induced micro-fabrication/surface property control and highly atom specific recovery materials will be developed by radiation-induced graft-polymerization in fields of regenerative medicine and domestic mineral resources, respectively.
To achieve the above-mentioned research topics, it is crucial to reveal the radiation effects of various quantum beams on each material, based on the quantum science and quantum beam technologies for creation of novel functional materials. Furthermore, we intensively progress the creation of novel functional materials for social contributions by utilizing cooperation systems with industry such as the QST innovation hub program.
Yasunari Maekawa, Ph.D.
Department Director