Center for Nanotechnology

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Center Overview

The Center for Nanotechnology was established in April 2014 within the Research Institute, after the reorganization of the Institute for Nanotechnology, which originally opened in 2011.
KUT has been generating a large number of research achievements and outcomes which are important keys to the development of nanotechnology in the fields of material science and electronic engineering. As a result, the Center for Nanotechnology has been leading nanotechnology research in areas such as the development of nanomaterial synthesis methods, physical property evaluation and the development of device applications.
This contribution is large, and is of significance not only to Kochi Prefecture but to the whole country in terms of industrial promotion.
Research related to nanotechnology tends to need large-scale facilities such as a cleanroom and expensive analytical devices including a transmission electron microscope. Rather than owning and operating such facilities or equipment in individual labs, KUT has been promoting strategic research material investment as a catalyst for new research themes through multidisciplinary and organizational research projects.
This strategy has led to various joint research projects and the acquisition of competitive research funds, and the educational impact is growing in significance as many students utilize these facilities and equipment every year.

The Center for Nanotechnology is aiming at further research promotion and development in the future.

Center Objectives

This field focuses on 1) the creation of quantum functional materials and devices through application of metal oxide semiconductor nanomaterial science; 2) the creation of flexible materials and devices through material synthesis and device construction on a variety of curved surfaces; and 3) the creation of neuromorphic elements using ultra-sensitive sensors and nanotube materials by controlling nanomaterials and their structures, contributing to the development new fields within nanotechnology through collaboration between faculty members specializing in the materials and devices fields.

Regarding material synthesis, with the goal of achieving a wide range of techniques for state control of materials ranging from crystalline to amorphous, we will introduce new means of defect evaluation, atom observation and operation, with the long term goal of creating fusion areas and other new areas of study. In addition, using characteristic experimental environments such as clean rooms, hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and probe microscopy, we will carry out concerted efforts ranging from the synthesis and evaluation of new materials to device verification, with the goal of enhancing the practice of new education and research.

Research Direction and Future Prospects

Creation of quantum functional materials and devices

Within this research theme, we aim to create quantum functional materials and devices by broad-range control of crystal structure. Important materials used will include 1) amorphous materials, e.g. the hydrogenated metal oxide material; and 2) crystalline material, e.g. high-quality metal oxide single crystal material created using the mist vapor phase epitaxy method, an atmospheric pressure film formation method. We will work on the realization of quantum effects in a wide range of crystal structure regions ranging from single crystal to amorphous.

Creation of new flexible materials and devices

Within this research theme, aiming at material synthesis and device construction on a variety of curved surfaces, we will work to create unprecedented flexible materials and devices, such as 1) thin film synthesis technology for tube inner walls and surfaces with varied curvature, for which film formation has been difficult until now; and 2) the realization of high-performance devices on flexible materials such as plastic, by means of material synthesis at lower temperatures.

Creation of ultra-sensitive sensors and neuromorphic elements

Within this research theme, we will work to create new material and device technologies, such as ultra-sensitive sensing devices, by controlling oxide semiconductor nanostructures and neuromorphic elements using nanotube materials.