ProjectsNanotechnology and Materials

Research Overview

The team has promoted fusion research of friction based on surface force measurement to reduce energy consumption and help to solve industrial problems concerning the interfaces particularly between the solid and the liquid phase. Their activities include development and commercialization of the world's lowest-volume ultra-trace viscometer, and the development of practical storage batteries based on the evaluation of the electrode interface films by applying our world-leading nano-interface evaluation technology. In this project, they advance measurement methods for interfacial molecular engineering and develop technologies based on these methods to contribute to social implementation in the form of products and to provide solutions to technological issues in industry.

Research Features

This project develops world-leading nano-interface evaluation technologies to solve technological issues involving interfaces, and our results contribute to social implementation in the form of products and to the resolution of technological issues in industry. The project is characterized by combining nano-interface evaluation methods to elucidate the characteristics of macroscopic material interfaces, including real materials, at the molecular level, aiming to revolutionize the situation where conventional nano-scale evaluations have not reached actual materials. The central tool is surface force measurement, which is an effective method to link between macro- and nano-scale phenomena because it can measure the interaction between macro surfaces on a scale of several tens of microns and a distance resolution of nanometers. The main targets are friction and lubrication phenomena and materials that are important for solving environmental and energy issues as well as storage batteries.

Expected Outcomes and Developments

Specific research topics and expected results are as follows:

1. Development and application of ultra-trace rheometers: The development of technologies such as ultra-trace rheometers and the expansion of their application fields (biomedical fields etc.) will create a wide range of uses, promote their use in fields where viscosity measurement has been given up or not expected in the past, and bring innovation to measurement methods.
2. Research on ice-rubber friction: By upgrading the world's only surface force and resonance shear measurement system capable of measuring ice at temperatures below -20℃, we will systematically evaluate various factors governing ice-rubber friction and elucidate the friction mechanism. Together with MD simulation and machine learning (Keio University) and macro friction evaluation (Université Lumière Lyon) through joint research, we will propose design guidelines for high-performance winter tires and work with companies to implement the results in winter tires.
3. Comprehensive battery evaluation based on interface evaluation technology: We will develop a new approach to solve companies' technological issues using interface evaluation technology as a foundation, and contribute to the development of storage batteries through joint research.