Priority Research Project
Materials Science for Next Generation Energy
Today, we are facing severe environmental issues such as global warming, climate change and so on. In order to meet such severe challenge ahead and pave the way toward the future, it is necessary for mankind to establish a sustainable society supported by scientific technology innovations. The green house gas emissions, which are thought to be a major cause for the global warming, are mainly derived from the transportation sector and electricity power generation based on the consumption of fossil fuels. A global solution must therefore involve a dramatic move to renewable energy, for which an interdisciplinary scientific research field will be indispensable to facilitate the development of renewable energy-related technologies.
The priority research project aims to create the leading international center of excellence for integrated materials science and chemistry with regard to next generation energy. We will emphasize both pioneering fundamental researches by outstanding young scientists and the development of innovative and undiscovered technologies contributing to renewable energy and the reduction of green house gases. This project contributes not only science and technology development but also human resource development which will be facilitated by close collaboration among research institutes around the world.
Project Researches
Recent scientific researches related to renewable energy and CO2-reducing technologies are covering various technologies such as electricity power generation utilizing natural energy and fuel cell, energy-storage devices such as Li-ion secondary batteries and capacitors, electric power grid-connection system, production of renewable energy resources including biomass resources, and so on.
The priority research project especially focuses on the following two research themes based on materials science and chemistry, which are the development of next-generation materials and technologies for resolving the environmental and energy issues.
(1) Development of innovative materials for next-generation energy storage devices
(2) Development of novel synthetic technologies of energy resources
(1) Development of innovative materials for next-generation energy storage device
Fundamental and practical material researches will be carried out mainly based on the following: a. Development of high performance Li-ion secondary batteries with both high power and large capacity
Low-cost, long-life and safety energy storage devices are recent research target considering the application to electric vehicles and natural power generation systems. At the next stage of such research, device performance of high power property and high energy efficiency would be required to disseminate the devices widely and to develop high value-added devices, which are important to suppress the CO2-emission. We will try to develop high performance Li-ion batteries with both high power and high energy properties, which can be applicable to renewable energy aiming of high energy efficiency. b. Development high performance all solid-state Li-ion secondary batteries
All solid-state batteries are expected to be next-generation energy storage devices from the viewpoint of safety use. Because of the generally low Li-ion conductivity in solid phase, the performance of related devices is much inferior to that of conventional batteries using liquid electrolyte. This research will challenge breaking through this problem to develop innovative all solid-state Li-ion batteries with high performance.
(2) Development of novel synthetic technologies of energy resources
Creation of new energy resources displacing fossil fuels is very important to establish a sustainable society. Although the utilization of biomass resources is commenced recently, direct conversion of CO2 into an energy resource would be more effective from viewpoints of carbon neutral and/or reducing CO2-emission. In this research, we will challenge this difficult research theme, that is, the development of novel synthetic technology for CO2-reduction and conversion into valuable carbon resources. Novel catalyst and reaction systems will be tried to be developed as a basic science.
International Cooperation and Cultivation of Young Researchers
(1) The priority research project aims to create the leading international center of excellence for integrated materials science and chemistry with regard to next generation energy. International research collaboration with oversea research institutes, especially with Asian research institutes, will be promoted in cooperation with The Center for Fusional Science of Materials Based on Nano-dymanics in Graduate School of Engineering at Nagasaki University.
(2) With the cooperation of newly established Department of Advanced Technology and Science for Sustainable Development in Graduate School of Engineering at Nagasaki University, we will cultivate leading young scientists who can confidently conduct creative and pioneering researches with an international perspective in the field of materials science and chemistry in relation to next-generation energy.
