Facilities

Scanning Electron Microscope, SEM

A microscope for observing structures and shapes in the nanometer-scale range below the wavelength of light. This SEM, a new model released in 2024, has an excellent user interface that allows intuitive image observation and setting changes. (JEOL, JSM-IT210).

Automated Multipurpose X-Ray Diffractometer

A powder X-ray diffraction system used to elucidate microstructure of materials (Rigaku, SmartLab). Equipped with a one-dimensional semiconductor detector, high speed measurements are allowed for both reflection and transmission modes.

Gas Adsorption Analyzer

High-performance adsorption analyzer for measuring surface area, pore size distribution, and pore volume of porous materials (Micromeritics, 3Flex).

Power-Compensation-Type Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC)

An equipment to measure specific heat, which is one of the most fundamental properties of matter (PerkinElmer, DSC 8000). Owing to the principle of power compensation, measurements can be carried out with high accuracies. The temperature range spans from about -150 ºC to 750 ºC.

Heat-Flux-Type Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC)

An equipment to measure the temperature of phase change (fusion, solidification, solid-solid phase change, etc.) and the heat accompanied to the change (Shimadzu, DSC-60). The temperature range spans from minus 160 ºC using liquid nitrogen.

Glovebox System with Circulation Gas Purifier

Glovebox system equipped with integrated gas purifier and automated catalyst regeneration function (VAC, OMNI-LAB) where the oxygen and moisture concentrations inside are maintained to be below 1 ppm.

Vacuum-Type Glovebox System

Vacuum-type glovebox system used to prepare samples under inert-gas atmosphere (UNICO, UN-650F). A high vacuum chamber is installed inside this glovebox, and in the chamber samples are degassed using a turbo-molecular pump unit.

Thermogravimetry and Differential Thermal Analysis Measurement System (TG-DTA)

A differential thermogravimetric analyzer (Rigaku, Thermo Plus EVO2) that simultaneously carries out thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) from room temperature to 1100 ºC under the controlled flow of either dry nitrogen or air. Using this analyzer, broad kinds of phase changes and chemical changes can be evaluated as a function of temperature.

Ultravioret–Visible–Near-Infrared Spectrophotometer

A spectrophotometer (Shimadzu, UV-3600) used to measure an optical absorption spectrum by a sample for wide-ranging wavelength from ultraviolet (185 nm) to infrared (3300 nm).

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FT-IR)

All-vacuum-type FT-IR equipment (JASCO, FT/IR-6100) used to elucidate microscopic structures and states of materials by acquiring spectra of infrared absorption by inter-atomic vibration modes.

Electrochemical Measurement System (Potentiostat–Galvanostat)

Multifunction electrochemical measurement system (Princeton Applied Research, VersaSTAT 4) used for determinations of electrochemical properties, diffusion coefficients, AC conductivity, redox equilibrium potential of species in a sample. Combined with our hermetically-sealed micro electrochemical cell, three-electrode electrochemical measurements are performed on a sample amount of 1 to 1.5 mL under inert gas atmosphere.

Workstations for Numerical Simulations

Workstations used for thermal fluid and quantum chemical simulations. Right: HPC Systems, 5000-XSL216TS-Silent (CPU: Xeon Gold 6150，2.7 GHz, 18x2 = 36 cores; Memory: 192 GB), left: HPC Tech, HPCT WSX32 (CPU: Xeon Gold 6342，2.8 GHz, 24x2 = 48 cores; Memory: 256 GB).

Cone-and-Plate Rheometer

Cone-and-plate type rheometer (Brookfield, R/S Plus) used to measure viscosity of fluids. Through programmed control of the revolution, broad fluidic properties such as non-Newtonian characteristics can be investigated. Temperature of the sample stage is thermoelectrically controlled between 0 and 135 °C. In this equipment, viscosities are measured under gas purging with a flow of dry nitrogen gas into the measurement section using our custom-made gas purging setup.

Polarizing Microscope

A microscope system to study polarization characteristics of a sample using a pair of rotatable polarizers mounted below and above the rotational mechanical sample stage (Olympus, BX53). Imaging with a 3.2 M pixel color CMOS camera under epi-illumination and transmission illumination are possible using two built-in white LED light sources.

Forced Convection Oven and Vacuum Dry Oven

Forced convection ovens and vacuum dry ovens used for sample preparation and processing. The vacuum ovens are evacuated by an oil-free scroll pump to avoid contamination to samples.

Multipurpose Sample Processing Electric Furnace

A home-built multipurpose electric furnace used for annealing, reduction, and/or surface cleaning of a sample in vacuum under the controlled flow rate of inert gas. The vacuum was generated using an oil-free scroll pump to suppress contamination to a sample.

Nanosecond Wavelength-Tunable Optical Parametric Oscillator System (OPO)

Nanosecond OPO laser system (EKSPLA, NT242) used to investigate translational molecular dynamics and kinetics of intermolecular energy transfer in materials. Wavelength: gapless tunable from 405 to 2600 nm, repetition rate: variable between 10 and 100 Hz, pulse width: 4 ns.

Femtosecond Wavelength-Tunable Laser System (Ti:Sapphire Oscillator)

Absolute Photoluminescence Quantum Yield Spectrometer

A spectrometer used to determine absolute photoluminescence quantum yield for both liquid and solid state samples using an integrating sphere and thermoelectrically cooled CCD array detector (Hamamatsu Photonics, Quantaurus-QY).

Micro Raman Scattering Measurement System

A home-built micro Raman scattering measurement system to investigate state of a sample at molecular level (via interaction between light and vibrational modes of molecules). This system is equipped with three objective lens and optimally-designed bundled optical fibers with which Raman scattered light is efficiently brought to a monochromator. The excitation light sources is a TEM00 single mode DPSS laser at 532 nm.

Photophysical Measurement System (Monocholomator, Thermoelectrically-Cooled CCD Array Detector, and Photomultiplier Tube)

A 30 cm-length monochromator (Princeton Instruments, SP-2300i) equipped with a thermoelectrically cooled silicon CCD array detector (Princeton Instruments, PIXIS 100BR) and a photomultiplier tube (Hamamatsu Photonics, H11461). This system is used for characterizations and investigations of samples by photoemission spectral measurements, time-resolved photoemission intensity measurements, transient absorption measurements, and micro Raman scattering measurements. This system is used with various excitation light sources including our nanosecond OPO laser system.

Thermo-Galvanic Potential Measurement System for Liquids

A system originally designed and developed by us to measure a thermo-galvanic potential generated from a redox couple solution used for the forced-flow thermo-electrochemical conversion. The sample liquid is held in two separated glass vials whose temperatures are controlled independently. These vials are connected each other via a salt bridge. The sample on the lower temperature side is controlled from 5 to 90 ºC using a Peltier unit and that on the higher temperature side is controlled from the room temperature to 200 ºC. The whole measurement section can be evacuated to allow for highly reliable measurements from which the influences of moistures and dioxygen in the air are excluded.

Electrical Conductivity Measurement System for Small Amount Liquids

A system originally designed and developed by us to measure the electrical conductivity of small-amount (0.3 mL) liquid samples under a precise temperature control. The temperature-controlling fluid circulates through all the blocks that constitute the cell, by which accurate temperature uniformity and controllability are achieved. A sample liquid is hermetically sealed between two platinum plate electrodes in the cell, allowing for reliable measurements free from moisture and oxygen in the ambient air that may affect the results. The electrical conductivity is determined using the Nyquist diagram obtained from an AC impedance measurement.

Ultra High Purity Water System

A system to generate ultra high purity water with electrical resistivity of 18.2 MΩ⋅cm, used for sample preparation and rinsing.