• Nanoporous metals have drawn considerable attention due to their highly functional properties. They are generally produced by selective dissolution of elements from a multicomponent alloy (known as the dealloying method). As this method is based on differences in the electrode potential of each element present in the alloy, and this potential is high for noble metals, porous structure can be obtained only for noble metals. Recently we have found a new, simple and easy dealloying method without using aqueous solution, which enable us to develop an open nanoporous non-oxidized metallic material even with base metals (such as Ti, Ni, Cr, Fe, Mo, etc), metalloids and their alloys.

This technique is very powerful for developing new functional electrodes, catalysts, filters as well for removing toxic metallic element from the surface of biomaterials containing the toxic element.

• Flexible liquid crystal displays using thin plastic film substrates instead of glass substrates contained in current liquid crystal displays, are bendable, thin, lightweight, and do not crack, and generate new usage styles and human interfaces due to their excellent storability and portability. We have been researching the basic technologies for large-screen and high-quality flexible displays using functional organic materials including liquid crystal and polymer, so that anyone can enjoy fertile information services.

We hope to conduct collaborative research with a willing company in industry, for development and practical application of the advanced flexible display technologies.

• We have been developing methods for explicating the dominant factors that determine the physical and chemical properties of materials and stacked structures used in human societies. Since the number of element atoms which consists of advanced materials has been increasing, and the crystallographic structure of the materials has become very complicated, both the various properties and reliability of the materials fluctuate significantly in nano-scale, and thus, deteriorate easily due to the local damages of the materials.

To design the optimal structure, composition of materials, and the fabrication process of both materials and stacked structures, we are going to develop a method of analyzing the atomic structure of thin film materials based on quantum mechanics and experimental methods for measuring material properties, atomic scale damage or defects in nano-materials.

• We are developing a non-destructive testing method for the long range rapid inspection of metallic pipe using microwaves. The method propagates a microwave inside a pipe, and evaluates flaws appearing at the inner surface of the pipe on the basis of the reflection and transmission of the microwave. The method does not require scanning probes unlike conventional non-destructive methods, which enables one to inspect a pipe quite quickly. Our experimental validations have demonstrated the effectiveness of the method using a pipe as long as 30 m.

The NDT method proposed here is applicable when many pipes are inspected or conventional methods are not available due to pipe length and its configuration.

• To apply the specific properties of nano materials for the industrial products, various technologies, such as synthesis method for single phase alloy nanoparticles which shows the effective activity for aimed reaction, that for well crystallized alloy nanoparticles which shows the resistively against for undesirable reaction, and that for single layered surface control method, etc, is developed by precise control of metal complexes in the solution by using the calculation and various research equipment including the photon factory.

Our technology can be useful for various industry which need the restrict control of surface properties, such as catalysts and electronics.

• For further social development, it is required the miniaturization, weight saving, high performance of various devices. We study on fiber, particle reinforced polymer, metal, ceramic matrices composite materials using our knowledge about materials mechanics and numerical simulation such as finite element method. We recently address to develop multi-functionalized composite materials, which have high strength, super lightweight, energy harvesting function, damage monitoring function, biodegradable at the same time.