"S" Keywords - 143 Result(s)

 S

[Social Capital]

Nonprofit Organizations and Social Capital

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特徴・独自性
  • Nonprofit organizations strive to solve community and social problems and to create new social values. Nonprofit organizations have the role to create citizenship and social capital - trust, norms and networks - in community. Social capital, an invisible and soft capital has increasingly become important to a sustainable management of an organization.
  • We hope to conduct collaborative research with willing corporations and organizations for measuring social capital at community/organizational levels and for making practical proposals on how to create and utilize social capital with viewpoints of partnership with nonprofit organizations and human resource development.
実用化イメージ

Researchers

Graduate School of Economics and Management

Yuko Nishide

[social entrepreneur]

Theory and practice of energy design to drive decarbonization

概要

An indispensable function for decarbonized driving is energy data analysis, an energy car navigation system with both high spatial and temporal resolution. Higher spatial resolution facilitates the recharging and discharging of electric cars and inter-regional energy exchange. With the addition of up-to-the-minute energy data with high temporal resolution, it is possible to rationally and optimally combine the fluctuating output of renewable energy with the consumers. Data analysis, system design, and operation will lead to a carbon-neutral society.

従来技術との比較

Japan's first regional energy supply and demand database has been developed, allowing for detailed design of sustainable and resilient regional energy infrastructure layout and operation based on analysis of the current energy status of cities, towns, and villages nationwide.

特徴・独自性
  • Research experience as a Fulbright Scholar in the U.S. and familiarity with examples of social implementation in Europe.
  • Data-driven innovation research approach based on a vast regional energy supply and demand database.
  • Emphasis on regional fieldwork as a social entrepreneur solving social issues.
実用化イメージ

Putting Theory into Practice. Helping to build sustainable energy systems for new community development. Including the background of the local community, listening to the opinions of the residents, and guiding them to discussions that are relevant to today's issues. Thinking globally and acting within the community.

Researchers

Graduate School of Engineering

Toshihiko Nakata

[social experiments]

Developing plastic waste sorter using Terahertz waves and social implementation of sustainable recycling technology

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概要

This research utilizes the characteristics of terahertz waves, used in next-generation communications and autonomous driving, to identify the materials of plastic waste. It improves existing recycling technologies and can be applied to evaluate the quality of recycled plastics, ensuring stable production of high-quality recycled plastics. It enables easy development of devices to solve various issues in containers and packaging and automobile recycling, contributing to the realization of decarbonization and a circular economy.

従来技術との比較

Conventional plastic waste identification and sorting technologies use specific gravity sorting or near-infrared devices. Particularly, near-infrared sorting technology has accumulated an enormous amount of data and serves as the primary sorting technology in plastic recycling plants. However, near-infrared devices struggle with identifying black plastics, additives, and degradation. This technology uses terahertz waves to measure and evaluate transmission and absorption characteristics, allowing for identification of black plastics, additives, and degradation.

特徴・独自性
  • In recent years, there has been increasing global attention on plastic waste issues, such as marine pollution from drifting garbage and microplastics, the overseas export of plastic waste resources, and the increase in disposable containers like plastic bags and straws, especially due to the impact of COVID-19. There is growing demand for advanced identification and recycling of plastic waste materials, especially in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and realizing a circular economy.
  • The research group from Tohoku University, Shibaura Institute of Technology, and Shizuoka University has conducted research on the commercialization of advanced sorting devices for plastic packaging waste. We have successfully identified mixed plastics containing black plastics, additives, and flame retardants, which were difficult to identify with existing devices, by utilizing the characteristics of terahertz waves. We have also confirmed the ability of terahertz waves in assessing degradation caused by UV or long-term use. Furthermore, the method has been shown to be effective for distinguishing bioplastics, which is expected to see increasing demand in the future, in addition to plastic waste from container packaging, automobiles, and home appliances.
  • These identification technologies can be applied to properly sort plastic waste generated by the “The Plastic Resource Circulation Act,” enacted in 2022, contributing greatly to securing high-quality recycled resources through plastic waste resource recycling.
  • Our research group conducts interdisciplinary research with experts in various fields: social engineering, resource circulation (Professor Jeongsoo YU), optical engineering (Professor Tadao TANABE of Shibaura Institute of Technology and Professor Tetsuo SASAKI of Shizuoka University), information science and big data analysis (Associate Professor Kazuaki OKUBO), data collection and analysis, international cooperation (Specially Appointed Lecturer Gaku MANAGO), social experiments, and behavioral economics (Assistant Professor Xiaoyue LIU). We address the needs from social, economic, and environmental issues both domestically and internationally, working from diverse perspectives to solve challenges and contribute to the creation of a sustainable society. Collaboration and networking with private companies, government agencies, research institutions, and civic organizations are also expected.
実用化イメージ

This technology can be applied to the development of plastic waste identification and sorting devices from processes such as containers and packaging recycling, automobile recycling, and home appliance recycling, as well as the production and quality evaluation of recycled plastics.

Researchers

Graduate School of International Cultural Studies

Jeongsoo Yu

[social walfare]

Economics of Aging

特徴・独自性
  • I investigate on the economics of aging, the optimal social welfare policy, low fertility and so on not based on the historical and systematic approach but based on the neo-classical economic theory. I also use econometric method and statistical approach. I often estimate the future projections of the population, public finance, magnitude of private markets, the results of public policies.
  • I also research on the comparative studies on East Asia (Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan) and European (especially Scandinavian countries). I provide statistic data and information on the economic and political systems on the aging in Japan.
実用化イメージ

The future estimation on the financial status , market caused by low fertility and aging. The effective management of the medical institutions, social welfare systems, gender equality societies for the central and local government, research institutions, public enterprises, and financial Institutions.

Researchers

Graduate School of Economics and Management

Hiroshi Yoshida

[Sodium]

“HYDRIDE" Researches for Energy Applications

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特徴・独自性
  • This group is engaged in basic and applied researches of "hydrides" for practical use in hydrogen energy system. The main subject is the exploration of advanced hydrogen storage materials which support hydrogen energy technologies such as fuel cells. Currently, we synthesize a wide variety of novel hydrides composed of lightweight metals with specific nano-structures using advanced techniques for crystal and electronic structure analyses. In addition to the hydrogen storage, we develop the wide research fields related to hydrides, such as fast lithium ionic conductors.
実用化イメージ

Besides the contributions in industrial progress through the material development for future hydrogen energy system and next-generation secondary battery, we positively provide technical assistance to organizations and companies concerned about our findings.

Researchers

Advanced Institute for Materials Research

Shin-Ichi Orimo

[SOFC ]

Fuel Cell and Energy Storage Using Ion Conduction in Ceramics

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特徴・独自性
  • Solid oxide fuel cell is a highly efficient power generation system operating at high temperatures using ion conducting ceramics. We conduct basic and multi-aspect research on the electrochemical and mechanical behaviors of the materials for further improving the efficiency, cost, and reliability of solid oxide fuel cells. We are also interested in the reverse operation of fuel cells which enables the storage of the electricity from renewable sources into hydrogen or methane, etc.
実用化イメージ

Researchers

Graduate School of Environmental Studies

Tatsuya Kawada

[Soft rock]

Development of the method of Baby Borehole Hydraulic Fracturing, BABHY

特徴・独自性
  • For the effective measurement of the reopening pressure in hydraulic fracturing, it is necessary to use the testing equipment with sufficiently small compliance. This limitation makes it difficult to apply the hydraulic fracturing for the measurement of the maximum stress, because the compliance of conventional equipments is generally so large. Taking account of this situation, we proposed a new concept which allows us to do the in-situ tests of hydraulic fracturing for stress measurement at so deep depths as more than 1 km. We call the concept the Baby Borehole Hydrofracturing, BABHY for short. In order to put the new concept into practice, we developed the BABHY sonde and finally we succeeded to carry out hydraulic fracturing test by using the tools in a vertical borehole of 811 m depth. We hope to conduct collaborative research with a willing company for a practical application of this technology in industry.
実用化イメージ

Researchers

Institute of Fluid Science

Takatoshi Ito

[soft-X-ray emission spectroscopy]

Nano-Scale Total-Analysis Based on TEM

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特徴・独自性
  • Our lab develops accurate nanometer scale characterization methods of crystal structures by convergent-beam electron diffraction (<strong>CBED</strong>) and electronic structures by electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and soft-X-ray emission spectroscopy (<strong>SXES</strong>) for evaluating new functional materials. For performing crystal structure studies, we developed a new Ω-filter electron microscope and a refinement soft-ware, which can perform not only atom positions but also electrostatic potential and charge distributions. For electronic structure studies, a high-resolution EELS microscope and SXES instruments were developed.
実用化イメージ

Collaborated research of Local structures (symmetry, polarity, lattice defects) by CBED and electronic structures (bandgap, dielectric property and chemical state) by EELS and SXES on semiconductors, metals and dielectric materials are acceptable. Instructions of those analysis methods are also acceptable.

Researchers

Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials

Masami Terauchi

[Soil Improvement]

Development of Recycling Technology for High-Water Content Sludge by Using Fiber Materials

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特徴・独自性
  • The recycling rate of construction muds and sludge is very low because the water content of these muds is very high and direct reuse of them is very difficult. Therefore, a new recycling technology for high-water content sludge has been developed in this laboratory. This technology is called "Fiber-Cement-Stabilized Soil Method", and it uses fiber materials and cement. The main feature of this method is to mix the fiber materials with the sludge, and the fiber materials included in the soil produce several geotechnical merits.
実用化イメージ

The modified soils produced by this method can be used as ground materials for reinforced embankment of the river bank and soil structures because they have several features such as high failure strength, high failure strain high durability for drying and wetting and high dynamic strength.

Researchers

Graduate School of Environmental Studies

Hiroshi Takahashi

[Solar cells]

Development of Interconnect Materials and Processes for High Performance and High Reliability Electric Devices

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特徴・独自性
  • Electronic products can be operated not only by semiconductors but also by metal interconnections attached to the semiconductors. Required properties for the metal interconnections are ohmic contact, diffusion barrier property, adhesion with semiconductors, and low resistivity, corrosion resistance, process reliability. Our group has committed ourselves to develop new metals and processes to meet the needs of wide-ranged device producers with consideration of cost performance. Topics of our research include (1) Cu alloys to self-form a diffusion barrier layer in multilayer interconnection of Si devices, (2) Cu alloys to form a reaction-doping layer in IGZO oxide semiconductors, (3) Nb alloys to achieve mechanical and thermal reliability with good ohmic property for SiC power devices, (4) Cu alloys for transparent conductive oxide such as ITO, (5) screen-printable Cu paste lines for solar cells, etc..
実用化イメージ

Our research efforts are targeted at metallization and interconnections for advanced LSI, flat panel displays, touch panels, power modules, solar cells, and other electronic devices. Collaborators include material producers, equipment vendors, and device producers in the entire value chain of electronic products.

Researchers

New Industry Creation Hatchery Center

Junichi Koike

[Solid electrolytes]

Developing energy creation and saving materials

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特徴・独自性
  • Most innovations have been triggered by advent of new materials. We focus on to explore new inorganic materials and their synthesis routes on the basis of our knowledge about the material design and various materials processing technologies. We develop proton conducting phosphate glasses working at intermediate temperatures and narrow gap oxide semiconductors applicable in visible and NIR regions. Thin-film solar cells, fuel cells using those materials are also developing.
実用化イメージ

We focus on oxide semiconductors and proton conducting electrolytes and electrodes in order to apply them in solar cells, fuel cells, light-emitting devices. But, applicable area of our technologies is not limited in those applications.

Researchers

Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials

Takahisa Omata

[Solid state physics]

Electronic properties of nanostructures and nanodevices

特徴・独自性
  • 1) We investigate interesting properties of nanostructures and develop materials and devices utilizing nanostructures.
  • 2) We have techniques and skills on low-noise electric measurements, cryogenics, nanofabrication, and data informatics. We are open to new collaborations.
実用化イメージ

Researchers

Advanced Institute for Materials Research

Tomohiro Otsuka

[Solid-Liquid Interfaces]

Development of Nano-Interface Chemistry for Materials Sciences Using Surface Forces Measurement

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特徴・独自性
  • Our research aims at developing methods, including instrumentation, for characterizing surface (or interface) at the nano-meter level. Most of our research subjects are related to the surface forces measurement, which can directly monitor the interaction between two surfaces. We study phenomena occurring at the solid-liquid interface such as adsorption and structuring of liquids. We have developed the resonance shear measurement which is a sensitive method for evaluating properties of confined liquid for nano-rheology and tribology. Twin-path surface forces apparatus we developed enabled us to study wide variety of samples such as metals, ceramics and plastics.
実用化イメージ

These methods are applicable for characterizing lubricants, nano-materials, paints, sealants, and cosmetics. We hope to conduct collaborative research with a willing company for a practical application of this technology in industry.

Researchers

New Industry Creation Hatchery Center

Kazue Kurihara

[solid-phase synthesis]

Synthesis of Biologically Active Cyclodepsipeptide Natural Products

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特徴・独自性
  • Cyclodepsipeptide natural products include optically active hydroxy acids as well as various unnatural amino acids and exhibit a variety of biological activity depending on the peptide sequence, chirality, and selection of the hydroxy acids. Structure-activity relationships of a synthetic library of natural products could give us significant information of not only biologically important moieties but also intact positions in the biologically active small molecules. On the basis of the former information, more potent compounds and/or peptide mimetics can be designed. The latter information can also be important for making a molecular probe that is used for exploration of a target molecule.
実用化イメージ

We study for combinatorial synthesis of natural product analogues using solid-phase.

Researchers

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Takayuki Doi

[Solid-state welding processes]

Design and control of new weld interface during welding of dissimilar materials

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特徴・独自性
  • Welding of dissimilar materials is an important process to manufacture the future structures and devices, but it is hard to produce the high-performance welds because the excessive reaction at the weld interface deteriorates the weld properties. Our group attempts to develop the new dissimilar welding process to yield the new interface with the aimed properties through design and control of interfacial reaction as well as usage of solid-state welding processes, such as friction stir welding and ultrasonic welding.
実用化イメージ

We hope to have collaborative researches with willing companies for practical application of welding of dissimilar materials, including metal/metal and metal/thermoplastic composite, in transportation, infrastructure, and energy industries.

Researchers

Graduate School of Engineering

Yutaka Sato

[Solidification]

Advanced die casting process computing with solidification phenomena

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特徴・独自性
  • Die casting is a method of mass-producing high-precision castings in a short time by filling the mold with molten metal at high pressure and high speed. Since solidification is completed quickly under high pressure, various defects peculiar to die casting occur. Significantly, the casting cavity has a high incidence in die casting, and it is a factor that hinders the quality. Therefore, a numerical approach to the die casting process is expected to prevent these problems, and the information obtained from the numerical analysis is expected to be reflected in the casting plan to reduce the number of prototypes, the lead time to product development, and the cost. In this study, a multiphase flow analysis with solidification phenomena of molten aluminum inside mold was conducted for a high-pressure die casting process of the throttle body.
実用化イメージ

Automotive industry, Automotive suppliers, Foundry industry

Researchers

Institute of Fluid Science

Jun Ishimoto

[Solution chemistry]

Chemical imaging devices which operate in severe environments

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特徴・独自性
  • We developed both pH and Cl- imaging plates, which can visualize the pH and Cl- concentration on metal surfaces in acidic environments. The pH range is from 3.0 to 0.5, and Cl- concentration up to 4 M can be measured. Fluorescent dyes are successively used for pH and Cl- imaging in the field of biology, but their sensitivity tends to be insufficient in acidic and/or highly concentrated chloride solutions. A glass plate with a sol-gel sensing layer, which contains a pH indicator or a Cl- sensitive florescent dye was fabricated and validated using the solutions with various pH values and Cl- concentrations. Changes in the pH and Cl- distribution on stainless surface in an acidic environment were measured quantitatively.
実用化イメージ

The newly developed imaging plates can be used to investigate the mechanism of various chemical reactions, such as corrosion, which occurs in an acidic environment. Micro-flow imaging using our sensing technique will be a promising approach to understand the catalytic chemistry of metal surfaces.
強調

Researchers

Graduate School of Engineering

Izumi Muto

[solvent property]

Supercritical Fluid Technology Based on its Unique Properties

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特徴・独自性
  • We have investigated various physical properties of supercritical fluids and their mixture. The properties studied are density, viscosity, phase equilibria, solubility, etc. under high temperatures and pressures. Using these suprecritical fluid features, we have proposed their application technologies; such as extraction of natural resources, cleaning, drying, catalyst preparation, polymer processing, polymer recycling, biomass conversion and controlled delivery. The methodologies used are experiments, simulation and theretical ones.
実用化イメージ

Cleaning Technology: precision machinery component, optical component, etc.
Extraction of Natural Resources: food, supplements, aroma.
Polymer Processing: functional resin, electronic component, etc.

Researchers

New Industry Creation Hatchery Center

Hiroshi Inomata

[sorter]

Developing plastic waste sorter using Terahertz waves and social implementation of sustainable recycling technology

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概要

This research utilizes the characteristics of terahertz waves, used in next-generation communications and autonomous driving, to identify the materials of plastic waste. It improves existing recycling technologies and can be applied to evaluate the quality of recycled plastics, ensuring stable production of high-quality recycled plastics. It enables easy development of devices to solve various issues in containers and packaging and automobile recycling, contributing to the realization of decarbonization and a circular economy.

従来技術との比較

Conventional plastic waste identification and sorting technologies use specific gravity sorting or near-infrared devices. Particularly, near-infrared sorting technology has accumulated an enormous amount of data and serves as the primary sorting technology in plastic recycling plants. However, near-infrared devices struggle with identifying black plastics, additives, and degradation. This technology uses terahertz waves to measure and evaluate transmission and absorption characteristics, allowing for identification of black plastics, additives, and degradation.

特徴・独自性
  • In recent years, there has been increasing global attention on plastic waste issues, such as marine pollution from drifting garbage and microplastics, the overseas export of plastic waste resources, and the increase in disposable containers like plastic bags and straws, especially due to the impact of COVID-19. There is growing demand for advanced identification and recycling of plastic waste materials, especially in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and realizing a circular economy.
  • The research group from Tohoku University, Shibaura Institute of Technology, and Shizuoka University has conducted research on the commercialization of advanced sorting devices for plastic packaging waste. We have successfully identified mixed plastics containing black plastics, additives, and flame retardants, which were difficult to identify with existing devices, by utilizing the characteristics of terahertz waves. We have also confirmed the ability of terahertz waves in assessing degradation caused by UV or long-term use. Furthermore, the method has been shown to be effective for distinguishing bioplastics, which is expected to see increasing demand in the future, in addition to plastic waste from container packaging, automobiles, and home appliances.
  • These identification technologies can be applied to properly sort plastic waste generated by the “The Plastic Resource Circulation Act,” enacted in 2022, contributing greatly to securing high-quality recycled resources through plastic waste resource recycling.
  • Our research group conducts interdisciplinary research with experts in various fields: social engineering, resource circulation (Professor Jeongsoo YU), optical engineering (Professor Tadao TANABE of Shibaura Institute of Technology and Professor Tetsuo SASAKI of Shizuoka University), information science and big data analysis (Associate Professor Kazuaki OKUBO), data collection and analysis, international cooperation (Specially Appointed Lecturer Gaku MANAGO), social experiments, and behavioral economics (Assistant Professor Xiaoyue LIU). We address the needs from social, economic, and environmental issues both domestically and internationally, working from diverse perspectives to solve challenges and contribute to the creation of a sustainable society. Collaboration and networking with private companies, government agencies, research institutions, and civic organizations are also expected.
実用化イメージ

This technology can be applied to the development of plastic waste identification and sorting devices from processes such as containers and packaging recycling, automobile recycling, and home appliance recycling, as well as the production and quality evaluation of recycled plastics.

Researchers

Graduate School of International Cultural Studies

Jeongsoo Yu

[Spacecraft Onboard Avionics and Mission Instruments]

Design and Development of 50 kg-class Micro Satellites

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特徴・独自性
  • We design and develop micro satellites in a format of 50 cm cubic size and 50 kg mass. We have developed the first and second micro satellites of Tohoku University, named “RISING” and “RISING-2”, launched by using JAXA’s H-IIA rocket vehicle in January 2009 and May 2014, respectively. Both satellites are operated from our ground station in the university. Particularly, RISING-2 has succeeded in capturing high precision color images of the Earth's surface at a spatial resolution of 5m, the highest in the world among 50kg-class satellites. Now the third micro satellite for international science mission is under the development. In addition, we are active in nano satellite development. The first nano-sat “RAIKO” in a 10 by 10 by 20 cm format was launched from the International Space Station in 2012. More nano-sats are under the development.
実用化イメージ

We would like to make innovation in space business by introducing a new paradigm for rapid and low cost development of space systems for various missions of remote sensing, earth observation, and space exploration. We have rich experience in the development of spacecraft bus systems, onboard avionics systems and mission instruments. Collaborations with technology and business partners are welcome.

Researchers

Graduate School of Engineering

Kazuya Yoshida