Vol.22 No. 2
〈The Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA)〉
Exploring new frontiers with Nanoarchitectonics
Create, arrange, and combine nanostructures of atoms and molecules.
And architecting materials with innovative functions that cannot be achieved with a single material.
We call this process “nanoarchitectonics.”
Quantum mechanical phenomena are becoming increasingly prominent as materials are miniaturized.
The Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) will not only sow the seeds for technologies that go beyond conventional concepts through the exploration of “nanomaterials,” but will also establish the fundamentals of quantum technology through the creation of “quantum materials.”
MANA will realize its vision of the future, and go beyond what people can imagine.
MANA will expand the world from nano.
(Top left) “Hime-DIA” with patterning of electrodes for measuring electrical resistance.
(Bottom left) Brilliant-cut diamond (single crystal) with patterning of heater and thermometer for heating in addition to electrodes (Research Highlights 03: Fig.). The tip plane is only 0.3 mm in diameter and can apply approximately 100 GPa.
(Top right) The purple diamond (single crystal) contains NV centers, which are expected to be applied to quantum sensors.
(Bottom right) The planar-shaped diamonds (single crystal) represent the initial type that successfully measured electrical resistance for the first time utilizing the formed electrodes. Subsequently, circuits were successfully formed into conical shapes resembling top-left and bottom-left sample.
Key project
Read on for an overview of the research projects being carried out at the Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics
Research Highlights
-
2024.03.26
The Science of Quantum in Atomic Thin Films
Low-dimensional materials, which have a thickness of only one to several atoms, exhibit several strange quantum mechanical properties that are not found in ordinary materials. Ryo Kitaura advocates for research aimed at designing their structure and understanding their physical properties, as well as developing devices driven by novel principles. Amazing discoveries published in 2018 Graphene, […]
-
2024.03.26
In-Depth Analysis of Nanoparticles Using Large-Scale, High-Accuracy First Principles Calculations
First principles calculations can be used to accurately simulate the atomic-scale structures of materials and predict their electronic states. Ayako Nakata and her colleagues succeeded in developing a calculation technique applicable to a wider range of materials than conventional calculation techniques. This was achieved by reducing the number of necessary calculations, which previously increased cubically […]
-
2024.03.26
Diamond Circuits Enable Efficient Materials Searches under Extreme High-Pressure, High-Temperature Conditions
A diamond anvil cell (DAC) can be used to recreate the extremely high pressures—reaching hundreds of thousands of atmospheres—that exist deep inside the Earth. This device makes it possible to synthesize and take physical property measurements from material samples under extreme high-pressure, high-temperature conditions. Ryo Matsumoto has developed a new DAC capable of easily adjusting […]
-
2024.03.26
Precision Synthesis Technology Paves the Way for a Promising Future in the Realm of “Nanoparticles”
Quantum dots are ultrafine particles with diameters of only a few nanometers. They exhibit unique optical properties due to the behavior of electrons confined in a very small space. Naoto Shirahata and his colleagues have achieved significant advancements in the research and development of quantum dots themselves and “hybrid nanoparticles” with modified surfaces. They are […]
-
2024.03.26
Elucidation of a Mechanism Drastically Suppressing Heat Transport in Solids towards Enhancement of Thermoelectric Conversion Efficiency Based on Theoretical Calculations
Massive amounts of waste heat are constantly released from various sources into the environment. NIMS has been researching and developing thermoelectric materials capable of directly converting waste heat into electricity. A material NIMS developed using only relatively abundant, less toxic elements achieved one of the highest thermoelectric efficiencies ever recorded. We asked Naoki Sato—who revealed […]
-
2024.03.26
Simple, Precise Aqueous Solution-Based Doping Technique for Organic Semiconductors
Organic semiconducting materials have been used to fabricate lightweight, flexible, potentially inexpensive printable semiconductor devices. However, their use in certain industrial sectors is limited due to a lack of simple, precise doping techniques for them. In October 2023, Yu Yamashita and his colleagues published a research article reporting a breakthrough organic semiconductor doping technique they […]
