Vol.23 No. 2
Research Digest 2024
NIMS released many press releases in 2024.
This issue highlights seven research achievements featuring unique materials and technologies.
It also includes exclusive interviews with the recipients of the NIMS Award 2024.
Discover the latest advancements and emerging trends in materials science!
Interviews with NIMS Award Recipients
Featured Press Releases from 2024
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2025.03.22
Microbeads with Luminescence from Visible to Near-Infrared Light
Vivid colors illuminating the darkness—all originating from the same particle. Dr. Tadaaki Nagao and Dr. Barun Barman have developed micrometer-sized spheres called “microbeads.” These microbeads can change their luminescence color (emission wavelength) across the visible to near-infrared spectrum simply by altering the incident light (excitation wavelength). No other luminescent material is known to cover such a broad wavelength range using a single substance.
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2025.03.22
Creep Life Extended by Over 10 Times: The Heat-Resistant Steel Made with Metal 3D Printing
Metal 3D printers can directly mold complex-shaped components, but their applications for heat-resistant steel in high-temperature, high-pressure environments are limited due to insufficient data on the strength and durability. Dr. Tomotaka Hatakeyama discovered that heat-resistant steel manufactured using the “Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF)” method exhibits over 10 times the creep life* of conventional heat-resistant steel. This result was obtained through a creep test conducted at 650℃ for approximately 10,000 hours (about 1 year and 2 months).
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2025.03.22
World’s First N-Channel Diamond Field-Effect Transistor is Developed
Diamonds, renowned for their brilliance, are also emerging as promising semiconductor materials for next-generation power devices and integrated circuits (ICs), capable of operating even under extreme conditions.
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2025.03.22
Organic Molecules That “Think” Accurately Predict Blood Glucose Fluctuations
Numerous particles are attached to the tip of a thin rod. It may be hard to imagine that this serves as a “stage for thinking.” However, when information is given as a physical stimulus, this system as a whole can indeed generate meaningful outputs.
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2025.03.22
A Breakthrough in Cancer Diagnosis: Exploring the Potential of Breath Analysis for Predicting Lung Cancer
Imagine detecting lung cancer simply by exhaling into a small device. Efforts are underway to turn this innovative diagnostic approach into reality. The key lies in the “scent” of exhaled breath.
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2025.03.22
Magnetic “Twin” in Virtual Space: The Birth of a “Digital Twin”
Neodymium magnets are crucial in industry and applications such as motors of electric/hybrid vehicles, although their coercivity remains only about 20% of its theoretical limit. To enhance performance, understanding the correlation between magnetic properties and microstructure is essential. However, numerical simulations, which are expected to support material development, have yet to achieve practical-level accuracy, posing a barrier to progress.
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2025.03.22
New Start-up Support System Established to Assist Doctoral Students
The NIMS Joint Graduate School Program provides students with the opportunity to pursue degrees in cutting-edge research environments. Since 2004, NIMS researchers have served as faculty members, mentoring graduate students through to degree completion. Currently, NIMS has joint agreements with seven universities: University of Tsukuba, Hokkaido University, Yokohama National University, Osaka University, Kyushu University, Waseda University, and starting in April 2025, students from Institute of Science Tokyo will also be accepted.
