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Carbon Nanotubes | Graphene | Battery Materials

Nanomaterials & Self-Organization

Nanotechnology brings innovations to the society widely in energy/environment, information/communication, etc., by adding novel functions to materials by controlling their structures at nanometer-scale. We are trying to establish the base of materials nanotechnology.

Let us think about the future clean energy systems. For large-scale electric power generation by solar cells, efficient use of high purity silicon is the key so that we are trying to improve the efficiency several-ten times by making single-crystalline thin films. Transparent electrodes are important for both solar cells (yielding electricity from light) and displays & lightings (generating lights from electricity), and we try to replace metal oxide semiconductors using rare-elements with carbon nanotubes or graphene. Nanotube-silicon hybrids are promising to realize Li ion batteries of larger capacities for (hybrid) electric vehicles. In this way, nanotechnology can bring innovations widely even if we use abundant carbon and silicon elements only, and contributes to sustainable technological society.

But nanomaterials can never be made in macro-scale if we artificially manipulate atoms/molecules one-by-one. Self-organization, i.e. spontaneous formation of materials from numerous atoms/molecules, is the key. We are trying to fundamentally understand the processes of chemical reactions of atoms/molecules, formation of nanostructures, and evolution of higher-order structures. Based on the fundamental understandings with flexible thinking and idea, we are proposing and developing novel processes for nanomaterials and their devices.

Carbon Nanotubes

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are a unique 1D nanomaterial quite thin ~nm and long ~mm. Extensive research made in physics/science fields clarified many unique properties and potential applications for them. On the other hand, as their price (more expensive than gold) shows, their fabrication process is still under development and their practical applications are very much limited. Chemistry & engineering should lead the innovations for their production and manufacturing. We have developed rapid growth process of millimeter-long SWCNTs and are trying to realize their practical production. We are also working on their applications, such to flexible electronics, solar cells, secondary batteries/capacitors, etc.
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  • Zhongming CHEN (D1): Fluidized-bed production of CNTs and their application to secondary batteries.
  • Nu-Ri NA(D1): Low temperature synthesis of dense CNT pillars, targeting at wiring in ULSI.
  • Yusuke KATAOKA (M2): Easy fabrication of CNT flexible electrodes & wirings.
  • Yusuke KON (M2): Custom production of CNTs by substrate-growth and fluidized bed CVD methods.
  • Hiroyuki SHIRAE (B4): Formation of patterned CNT networks for flexible devices.
  • Mai Yamaguchi (B4): Flame synthesis of single-wall CNTs.

Rapid SWCNT growth
Larger Movie.


Continuous production by fluidized bed: Movie

Graphene

Graphene is a unique 2D nanomaterial of a single atomic layer having excellent conducting, transparent, and mechanical properties. But their practical production method has not been developed yet. We are developing new processes; directly depositing graphene on substrates in order for its electronic device applications, and producing high quality graphene at low cost in order for its applications to solar cells and touch panels.
  • Tatsuya MASUDA (M2): CVD synthesis of graphene on catalyst metals and improvement of graphene quality through control of gas-phase diffusion processes.
  • Masaki KOSAKA (M1): Direct fabrication of metal-free graphene on substrates and structural control of graphene.
  • Asahi OHKAWA (B4): Transfer of CVD-graphene in order for the repeated use of catalyst metals.

Battery Materials

Silicon is the base for the information society. At the same time, it contributes to the renewable energy by realizing most solar cells. Furthermore, it has a highest theoretical capacity as an anode for lithium ion batteries. Carbon nanotubes and graphene are also expected to make a breakthrough for energy device performance. Targeting at the contribution to the large-scale introduction of clean energy devices, we are trying to realize large-scale and low cost production of high-performance materials using abundant elements of carbon and silicon.
  • Jungho LEE (D3): Rapid vapor deposition of porous Si films and their application to lithium ion batteries.
  • Ricardo QUINTERO RESTREPO (D2): Developing carbon-nanomaterials for supercapacitors.
  • Kosuke HIROTA (M2): Fabrication of single-crystalline silicon thin films by rapid vapor deposition and epitaxial lift-off methods.
  • Nan FANG (B4): Rapid vapor deposition of Si alloys and their application to lithium ion batteries.

1-min-epitaxy and lift-off of Si films for solar cells


1-min deposition of porous Si films for Li ion batteries

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Noda Laboratory,
Department of Applied Chemistry,
School of Advanced Science and Engineering,
Waseda University,
3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan