Electro-Active Energy Material Lab. of the Department of Energy Science studies various materials related to energy conversion, magnetism, catalyst and electronics. We are targeting the first discovery and global-top performance in electrides as new electro-active materials, focusing on thermoelectric energy conversion materials low-dimensional transition metal dichalogenides from fundamental to applied researches.

Followings are the main research topics:

1. Electride

Electrides are ionic compounds in which electrons act as anions occupying interstitial real space of crystal structures, not orbitals. Because the electrides shows a low work function and high electron concentration, the materials are of interest for electronics and catalysts. We design and synthesize a new electrides by theoretical and experimental researches for industrial applications.

2. Thermoelectric materials

Thermoelectric materials can convert electricity to heat, and vice versa. Utilizing the Seebeck and Peltier effect, thermoelectric refrigeration and power generation are possible, enabling efficient energy consumption. We are developing a world-record high performance in state-of-the-art materials by studying fundamental material physics and material process.

3. Low-dimensional materials

We study the low-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides utilizing a high quality single crystal and epitaxial thin film fabricated in our laboratory. Beyond graphene, we explore a new two-dimensional crystal structure distinct from conventional layered structures.