• 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.

• The main research subjects in this group are the experimental investigations of the organic molecular conductors. The characteristic properties of the organic materials are multiple flexibilities owing to the assemble structure of nanometer-size molecules. This flexbility comes up recently for developing the organic electronic devices. We explore the fundamental electronic properties of the organic molecular materials which have wide range of the ground states from superconductivity to insulating states resulting from the strongly correlated electrons in the molecular pi-orbital. Such features are closely connected to flexible and multiple degrees of freedom in charge, spin, molecular latticeand molecules themselves. We are actively studying on the interesting and important issues in the condensed matter physics from the viewpoints of the characteristic flexbility of the organic molecular materials. We are prepared to provide academic consultations to companies interested in our research.

The sea pineapple is the only animal that produces cellulose, and its shells, excluding the edible parts, are treated as industrial waste. By removing proteins and other components from the sea squirt shells and fibrillating them, cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) can be extracted. We have focused on the fact that CNFs derived from sea squirt shells have a higher degree of crystallinity and greater mechanical strength compared to those from wood, and we are exploring various applications of this material. Furthermore, since the material transforms into high-quality carbon upon calcination, we successfully developed "nano-blood carbon catalysts" by mixing it with dried blood powder and calcining the mixture. These catalysts are being applied in fuel cells, water electrolysis, and metal-air batteries.

CNFs derived from sea pineapple's shells have a higher degree of crystallinity compared to those from wood and provide longer fibers, resulting in high strength. When calcined, they transform into high-performance carbon.

• We are the only research laboratory that has consistently developed a process for the simple and large-scale purification of CNFs derived from sea pineapple's shells, along with the creation of film materials that leverage their unique properties (mechanical, engineering, surface science, electrical, and thermal characteristics), as well as the development of carbonized materials.

We offer materials derived from sea pineapples' shell CNFs, as well as their carbonized products and catalysts. Please feel free to consult us regarding material supply, carbonization processes, or the utilization of catalysts.

• The emergence of stress corrosion cracking is one of the most important issues from the viewpoint of aging management and maintenance of nuclear power plants. There is a large discrepancy between stress corrosion cracking and other cracks such as fatigue cracks from the viewpoint of nondestructive testing and evaluations, which requires suitable specimens containing stress corrosion cracking for the development of nondestructive testing and evaluation techniques and also for personnel training. However, artificially introducing stress corrosion cracking needs large cost and long time. Furthermore, several studies have pointed out that such articial stress corrosion cracking is not always similar to natural ones. On the basis of the background above, we develop a method to fabricate "imitative" stress corrosion cracking specimens using diffusion bonding.

The method enables one to introduce a region whose response is almost identical to actual stress corrosion cracking from the viewpoint of nondestructive testing. Whereas the dimension of the region is accurately controllable, the method requires much less cost and time comparing the conventional ones using corrosive environment. Patent is already applied for.

• One of our major research focuses is to design the novel drug nanoparticles, so called “Nano-prodrugs”, and to apply them as anticancer drugs or eye drops with excellent delivery efficiency. Nano-prodrugs are constructed by synthetic prodrugs molecules which contains poorly water-soluble substituent. They could be fabricated to nanoparticles with 100 nm or less in size by our reprecipitation technique, which has been used to create organic nanomaterials. We are aiming at practical application of our Nano-prodrugs in the near future.

Our reprecipitation technique for fabricating organic nanomaterials is a versatile technique that can be applied to various organic molecules as well as drug compounds. We hope to conduct collaborative research with a willing company on controlling and evaluating properties of the organic nanoparticles.

When light, such as a laser, is irradiated onto matter, the dynamics of atoms and electrons within the material are driven. We have been studying these driven atomic and electronic dynamics using microscopic simulations based on quantum mechanics. Furthermore, through these simulation approaches, we are also studying the microscopic physical processes underlying light-induced phenomena.

In conventional materials science calculations, first-principles simulations based on density functional theory have been widely used to study the equilibrium properties of matter. However, such equilibrium approaches are not well suited to capturing the dynamics driven by light within materials. Our research method employs time-dependent density functional theory, which can handle material dynamics, thereby going beyond equilibrium descriptions and enabling precise analysis of nonequilibrium phenomena, nonlinear effects, and ultrafast processes driven by light.

• * First-principles calculations for optical science
• * Real-time simulations of nonequilibrium dynamics of electrons and atoms
• * Clarifying microscopic mechanisms behind macroscopic phenomena induced by light

We are developing theoretical and computational methods to accurately describe the nonlinear and nonequilibrium dynamics of atoms and electrons driven by light. We are also conducting research aimed at creating new science and technology based on light-driven phenomena. We hope that our research will contribute to the social implementation of new scientific and technological advances.

We offer shared facility for the development of semiconductor prototypes equipped with 4-inch, 6-inch and some 8-inch wafer fabrication tools available on an hourly basis. Know-how accumulated at Tohoku University is available, and staff provide maximum support for prototyping. The service is performed at the 1,200 m2 Super Clean Room on the second floor of the Junichi Nishizawa Memorial Research Centre at Tohoku University. For information on equipment and fees, see our website.

More than 10 experienced technical staff assist customer's usages. Standard process conditions for each process, such as etching and deposition, are provided. allowing customers to start prototyping immediately. Various materials other than silicon can also be supported.

• We support the development of devices and semiconductor materials such as MEMS, optical elements and RF components.
• Technical consultation on devices and processes before and during prototyping is also available.
• A
• 'Prototype lab' for device packaging is also available.
• The museums where you can learn about the history of semiconductors, measuring instruments and sensors are open.
• As part of Technology Co-creation for Semiconductor of Tohoku University, we promote R&D of semiconductors and the development of human resources.
• On-demand semiconductor human resource development programs for students and engineers are available.
• As a member of the MEXT's Advanced Research Infrastructure for Materials (ARIM) program, we are involved in sharing facility and data.

More than 330 companies have used our shared facility since its launch in 2010, not only from device manufacturers such as MEMS, but also from manufacturers of materials, mechanical components and equipment. To date, we have successfully supported the commercialization of about 10 devices.