Environment and Process Design Laboratory
Mechanical Engineering
Nagaoka University of Technology

Nano second and Nanometer Technology Research Group
Extreme Energy-Density Research Institute (EDI)Labo Guide 2017 ver 1.0
We will support and welcome the foreign students. Please come on for study
the World Advanced Manufacture and Environmental Engineering!!!
Thank you for downloading this file. What follows is an introduction to the Prof. Nakayama’s groups for the
Mechanical Engineering course at Nagaoka University of Technology.
■Areas of study
The areas studied by these Laboratories are truly wide-ranging. In brief, the Laboratories“seek to take up the challenge of a series of processes starting with assembling new electrical circuits that the world
has never seen, constructing new power supplies, fabricating new devices to synthesize materials using thosecircuits and power supplies, measuring the properties of newly created materials that the world has never seen andanalyzing their structure, and eventually putting those devices and materials into practical use.”
Naturally, all of the work from designing an electrical circuit to putting it into practical use cannot be done by asingle person. Once you are assigned to a Laboratory, your research topic will be determined upon consultation
with the Laboratory Director, but we encourage you to work on what you excel at or what you would like to work
on. The Laboratories offer an overall view of the steps in R&D as part of ”Environmental Technology” and“Manufacturing” so the Laboratories will allow you to see your own research results take shape. In someinstances, research results may be turned into an actual commercial product that makes it to market (like results put
to practical use in the tactile sensors in the head of Sony’s Aibo robot).

■KeyWords
Environmental Technology
CO2 zero society, CO2 zero manufacturing, Energy conversion and storage, Environment purification technology,
Recycling, Reuse, Low environmental load process, Energy saving technology, Energy harvesting, Thermal
management, Solar cell, Fuel cell, Heat storage technology
Manufacturing
Ceramics, Nanotechnology, Industrie 4.0 (Industry 4.0), IoT, Society 5.0, Devices for Robots, “unique
technologies”, 3D printer, New process development, Pulse power, Nanosecond technology, Construction method
System Design
Innovation, Big data, Development of AI (artificial intelligence) technology to manufacturing, Business model
proposal, Production of complex systems such as automobiles and aircraft, Manufacturing by society, Production of“unique technologies”, Robot Technologies (System, Sensor, Materials, Devices,,)■Examples of recent research topics■Nano Pulsed Power Supply Circuit design and process development
Synthesis of surface potential-controlled nanoparticles with plasma at atmospheric pressure using an originally designed
nanosecond pulse power supply(Involved power supply design and materials design)
Development of a plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition technique using a nanosecond pulse power supply(Involved power supply design and materials design)
Development of processes to control the alignment of anisotropic ceramic nanosheets in strong magnetic fields and nanosecond
pulsed electrical fields
RC

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VDC

CDC

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MS1

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PT

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■Ag Nanosheet■Nano Pulse Power Supply■Nano Pulse Circuit design

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■Environmental technology and Robot technology by Anisotropic Engineering

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Discharge Voltage [kV]Discharge Current [A]Design of a novel organic-inorganic hybrid system with contrasting features (polymer vs. ceramic) to help improve the efficiency ofa fuel cell
(Combined environmental technology and organic-inorganic hybrid technology)

Time [50 ns/div]■Anisotropic BN/Polymer Nanocomposite■Nano Pulse Fabrication■Application (Touch Sensor)■Micro-Nano 3D fabrication technology & nanobiotechnology
Design of a nanoimprint mold using carbon nanotubes and biosensing(Developed a process of forming nanostructures through use of the characteristics of CNTs)
Painless blood sampling with nanoinjection needles using polylactic acid
Development of a novel contrast agent using magnetic particles and development of imaging simulation software■Bio Sensor■Bio Sensor■Nanoimprinted Alumina■Nanoimprinted Titania■Structural ceramics with Nanocomposites Design Concept
Bringing out the functions of structural ceramics through anisotropic structural control(Sought to further improve the functioning of structural ceramics, one of Japan’s crowning achievements)
Creation of high-temperature structural ceramics with a high strength-to-weight ratio using nanocomposites(Sought to further improve the functioning of structural ceramics, one of Japan’s crowning achievements)
Pt 5vol.%Pt
t 55vvool l %%50 nm

■Alumina Nanoparticles■Nanocomposite Particle■Porous Composite■Functional materials for Energy Harvesting
Equipping titanate nanotubes with new functions and elucidating their thermal and electrical properties(Involved exploring the potential of titanate nanotubes, a new material developed in Japan)
Creation of a dye-sensitized solar cell with a novel nanostructure and development of environmentally-friendly processes
Construction of active electronic devices using ceramic nanotubes and verification of their operation
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■Example of Solar Cell

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■Internationalization
The Laboratories accept researchers from around the world.
As of April 2017, exchange students and long-term foreign researchers had come from:South Korea (2 individuals), Finland (1), China (1), Malaysia (1), Qatar (1), Mongolia (2) and Vietnam (4).
●Status of joint research with laboratories overseas
The Laboratories have conducted joint research with
UK: University of York, University of Bristol
USA: University of South Florida, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
China: Wuhan University of Technology, Xian Jiatong University
Vietnam: Hanoi University of Technology, Ho Chi Minh University of Technology
India: IIT Madras
Malaysia: Universiti Malaya
Australia: (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) RMIT University
Thai: Chulalongkorn University, Thammasat University, National Metal and Materials
Technology Center (MTEC)
S. Korea: Sun Moon University (Priv.), Pusan National University, Inha University (Priv.),
Hanyang University (Priv.), Seoul University of Technology
There are active exchanges with these universities at the student level, and these universities and Nagaoka
University of Technology send out and accept exchange students. Over the last few years, large numbers ofstudents have sought to study overseas, so every year a number of graduate students will act as research students
overseas. That said, studying abroad is not compulsory and is ultimately determined by whether the student wants
to study overseas. However, this environment is rich with promise for individuals who want to conduct researchoverseas.

■Joint research in JapanThe Laboratories are conducting joint research with universities. The Laboratories also conduct joint researchwith Japanese universities like Hakodate College of Technology, Tomakomai College of Technology, Nagaoka
College of Technology, Tohoku University, Shinsyu University, Osaka University, Kyoto University, Tokyo
Institute of Technology, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya University, and Osaka Prefecture University andhold meetings of study groups combining members from both Laboratories. Additionally, the Laboratories
participate in research on a number of national projects.
■Laboratory policies and life as a researcher
The Laboratories have the fullest respect for student autonomy, so there are no set hours in which students must
be present. Students are also free to work part-time to learn more about everyday life. Students are absolutely free
to take weekends off at their own discretion. However, more is required of research in the Laboratories than isrequired of work in a regular laboratory. Over the last few years, many students have participated in academic
societies at quick pace. If moving quickly, students might make a presentation at a Japanese academic society
prior to the fall of their fourth year as undergraduates and make a presentation to an academic society overseas inEnglish prior to the winter of their first year as master’s students. Many graduate students also write at least one
academic paper in English prior to completing their master’s. Naturally, the research pace differs depending on
the individual. Over the last few years in particular, many students have produced research results at such a pace.
Of course, suddenly generating such exceptional results is extremely difficult. Students should work steadily
toward that goal with the guidance of individual instructors and more advanced students. The Laboratories havecrafted an educational system to do just that. When looking for work after completing a master’s, students
may find that their experience studying overseas or presenting research results overseas during their firstyear of the master’s program is a big attention-getter for employers. More importantly, that experience will

give students confidence in themselves.
The Laboratories now have 4 doctoral research associates and numerous students in the doctoral program. Such
exceptional mentors thoughtfully and meticulously instruct students in how to conduct research. Such incredible
experience is priceless.
■Career paths for graduating students
Most students in the Laboratories continue on into a master’s program. After completion, about one-fourth willcontinue into a doctoral program or find employment with a private firm.
The career path following completion of a doctorate is most often an assistant professorship at a college. Ph.D.
Graduates are working as instructors at schools like Osaka University, Tomakomai National College ofTechnology, Nagaoka National College of Technology and Nara National College of Technology. Ph.D.
Graduates are also working as research associates at locations like the Shimane Institute for Industrial Technology
and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.
The career path following completion of a master’s varies every year, with Master Course graduates finding
work with any number of companies. These companies include Robert Bosch GmbH, SONY, Tohoku ElectricPower Co.,Inc., Hokuriku Electric Power Co.,Inc., Panasonic, HITACHI, Sumitomo Chemical, Hitachi
Chemical, Union Tool, JR East, JR Kyusyu, DENKA, Nikon, RICOH, ULVAC, JX Holdings and Kobelco, etc.
■Life in the Laboratories
The Laboratories strive to improve the lives of their researchers since researchers are, before all else, humanbeings. Nagaoka is a bit rustic, so Nagaoka lacks the extravagant entertainment of the city. However, there arelaboratory-wide activities like greening efforts around the laboratories (the Gardening Club), soccer and baseballgame attendance (the Sports Spectator Club), softball practice (the Softball Club), and cooking and dining (theCooking Club) and opportunities like biannual laboratory trips. Through these activities and travel opportunities,
the Laboratories strive to heighten fellowship among laboratory members and create bonds that will stand the testof time. All of the students in the Laboratories are bright, and the Laboratories have an atmosphere that always
facilitates an open dialogue without distinction between faculty and students. “The Laboratory is a family.”■Members (Prof. Nakayama’s Group)
Position
Name
President of
Nagaoka Univ ofTech

Koichi Niihara(OB of our group)

Research Topics

Photo

Management of Nagaoka Univ of Tech.
Talking, Drinking and Cooking in our Labo.
(President of the Ceramics Society of Japan)
Environmental Technology, Processing, IoT, Industry 4.0,
Energy Conversion, Ceramics Science, Nanocomposites,
Plasma Science, Material Design Concept, Energy Harvesting,Anisotropic Engineering, Nanoimprint Process
Development of Nano-process, Hybrid Materials,
Nano Second and Nano Technology

Professor,
Principal
Investigator

Tadachika NAKAYAMA

Post Doctor

Lingfeng HE

Post Doctor

Hong-Baek CHO

Anisotropic alignment of BN nanosheets in
Hybrid Materials under nano pulse widthelectricity

Post Doctor

Satoru ISHIHARA

Discovery of oxide ceramic material having ahigh pressure electric properties

Ph.D. Candidate

Masahiro TERAUCHI

Titania
nanotube
basedenvironmental purification

Master Course
Student

Kazuyoshi IMAKI

Development of a high-throughput nanoimprint
processing

Master Course
Student

Takeshi FUJIHARA

Design of 3-D Nanostrucutured Materials by
Nanoimprint and Nanopulsed Electric Power
SupplyMaster Course
Student

Jun YOSHIMURA

Synthesis and microstructural observations of thenanosized mosaic structure of barium titanate / Pt
nanocomposites

Master Course
Student

Ji Won LEE

Dye-sensitized solar cells using nanosized natural
pigments and titania nanotube system

Master Course
Student

Yoshihisa OHBA

Structure control of the Co2MnSi Epitaxial
Heusler Alloy Film for spintronics devices

Master Course
Student

Satoshi AMARUME

Development of high strength ultra-light
structural materials Ceramics by Nanocomposites
Design Concept

Master Course
Student

Shin ENDO

Development of atomic layer deposition using
nanosecond pulsed power

Master Course
Student

Satoshi ONO

Nanoimprint process of functional polymers

Master Course
Student

Masaaki TAKEDA

Mechanical properties of Y2Ti2O7

catalystsforDevelopment of the 3-D strucutured functional
thin films by nanoimprint processMaster Course
Student

Byungjin HONG

Nanoimprint and Rapid Sintering for Functional
Ceramics

Master Course
Student

Ayumi KONNO

Development of ultrasensitive biosensors andartificial antibodies nano electrode

Master Course
Student

Shin-ichi TAKAMARU

Analysis of viscoelastic behavior of the slurry
containing nanoparticles

Master Course
Student

NGUYEN CHUNG TU

Remote control of Nanosized Materials bynanosecond electric pulse technology

Master Course
Student

Yuya NAKATA

Master Course
Student

Masaya MITSUHASHI

Development of high thermal conductivity ofcomposite sheet of epoxy resin and ceramic
nanoparticles

Master Course
Student

Tsukasa YANAGITA

Transistor design and development with titania
nanotubes

Bachelor
Course Student

Ryo ISHIZAWA

Development of polymeric nanocomposites forenergy harvesting

Bachelor
Course Student

Akinobu NAKAMURA

MEMS design using a protein systems

Bachelor
Course Student

Huynh Tan Minh Triet

Development of simulation
improve thermal management

Nanocomposites for Energy Harvesting

techniquesto■Laboratory equipment
Equipment in the Laboratories is outstanding not only for Japan but is comparable to that in any laboratory worldwide.
The Laboratories are fully equipped for materials development, as typified by the 2 TEMs in the Laboratories and 4
linear accelerators. Worthy of mention are devices to measure phenomena in nanoseconds that were fostered byaccelerator development. Nevertheless, there is a sense of the lack of devices to assess the functional properties ofsome materials in comparison to the number of devices for sample synthesis and microstructural analysis. This isremedied by close coordination with groups conducting joint research domestically and abroad, providing avenues thatallow access to special measuring devices. When asking that such measurements be made, students themselves
approach the university or laboratory in question, allowing them to become familiar with the atmosphere of the university
and the level of research being conducted there. Thus, students have the chance to study conditions at other universities
without being shut up in the laboratory.

Once assigned to the Laboratories, here is some of the equipment you’ll routinely have access to■Equipment (for Example)
Processing[Ceramics]
Hot Pressing, Furnace, Jet mill, Bead mill, High pressure presses ton 500, CIP, Horizontal grinder, Polishing,diamond wheel cutter, Homogenizer, Hybrid mixer[Thin Films]
Vacuum evaporation system, Plasma CVD, Atomic layer deposition chamber, Laser ablation deposition System,
DC magnetron and RF magnetron Sputtering System, Dip coating, Spin coating[Polymers]
Injection molding, Kneader, Ink Wash up Blades, Organic Synthesis Columns, Hybrid Mixer[Others]
Sonochemistry reactor, Hydrothermal synthesis, Microwave hydrothermal synthesis, Nano-imprint systems (×3),
Molten salt synthesis method
Characterization
FE-TEM and EELS system, Dual Beam FIB, LaB6 filament TEM (×2), Imaging plate system, FE-SEM and EDS
system, XRD, AFM, FT-IR, UV-vis spectroscopy, Digital Microscope, PIPS (gatan, Ion beam milling system)
Measurements
TG-DTA-MASS system, TMA, BET surface area, Rheometer, Solar Cell Measurement System, Solid-oxide fuelcell measurement system, Wear coefficient measuring apparatus (Ball on Disc), Universal testing machine(Mechanical Properties), Micro Vickers indentation, Nano-indenter, Biosensor evaluation system, Energy
Harvesting Evaluation System, SQUID magnetometer.
■Competitive Research Fund (Year 2016) Total ; 0.82 million Dollar/year
Scientific Research Grants [Scientific Research (A)], A-STEP project (JST, Ministry of Education)
Super Hybrid Materials National Project (NEDO, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
Knowledge Cluster Project (Ministry of Education)
A3 foresight International Research Project (JSPS, Ministry of Education)
Joint research fund and/or donation from 5 companies■Selected Recent Publications (total 206 papers)■Strength improvement and purification of Yb2Si2O7-SiC nanocomposites by surface oxidation treatment, Journal of the American
Ceramic Society, Volume 100, Issue 7, 1, Pages 3122-3131 (2017).
■Superconducting water derivatives of Sr2Can-1CunO2+2n-δ (n = 2-4) high-Tc superconductors, Materials Chemistry and Physics,
Volume 177, 1, Pages 67-72 (2016).
■Low thermal conductivity Y2Ti2O7 as a candidate material for thermal/environmental barrier coatings, Ceramics International,
Volume 42, Issue 9, Pages 11314-11323 (2016).
■Insulating polymer nanocomposites with high-thermal-conduction routes via linear densely packed boron nitride nanosheets,
Composites Science and Technology, Volume 129, 6, Pages 205-213 (2016).
■Polymer nanocomposite films with thicknesses (≤ 30 μm) corresponding to the lateral dimension of graphite nanosheets asstraightforward thermal conducting pathways, Composites Science and Technology, Volume 127, Pages 106-112 (2016).
■Fabrication of stacked-cup carbon nanotube/polymer nanocomposite films with linear controlled percolation routes, Materials
Chemistry and Physics, Volume 171, Pages 39-44 (2016).
■Texture-controlled hybrid materials fabricated using nanosecond technology, Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan, Volume
124, Issue 3, Pages 197-202 (2016).
■Nanotwin hardening in a cubic chromium oxide thin film, APL Materials, Volume 3, Issue 9, Article number 096105 (2015).

■Graphene oxide as a template for a complex functional oxide, CrystEngComm, Volume 17, Issue 32, Pages 6094-6097 (2015).
■Epitaxial growth of chromium nitride thin films with addition of silicon, Physica Status Solidi (C) Current Topics in Solid State
Physics, Volume 12, Issue 6, Pages 545-548 (2015).
■Synthesis of molten-metal corrosion resistant yttria-based refractory by hot-pressing and densification, Journal of the European
Ceramic Society, Volume 35, Issue 9, Pages 2651-2662 (2015).
■Novel Electrothermodynamic Power Generation, Advanced Energy Materials, Volume 5, Issue 13, (2015).
■Nanomechanical and optical properties of yttrium thin films by magnetron sputtering, Optics Letters, Volume 39, Issue 11, Pages
3086-3089 (2014).
■Optimization of exchange bias in Co2FeAl0.5Si 0.5 Heusler alloy layers, Journal of Applied Physics, Volume 115, Issue 17, Article
number 17D725 (2014).

Group photo of the Extreme Energy-Density Research Institute

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MAP of Nagaoka Univ of Tech
Prof. Nakayama’s office: Room 305, ⑦ Dept. of Mech. Eng. No.1 Build. (see the Arrow)Principal Investigator
Tadachika NAKAYAMA, Dr., Prof.
nky15@vos.nagaokaut.ac.jp
TEL ; +81-258-47-9889
Room 305, Dept. of Mech. Eng.,
1603-1 Kamitomioka, Nagaoka 940-2188 Japan
Department of Mechanical Engineering
andDepartment of Science of Technology Innovation
andExtreme Energy-Density Research InstituteNagaoka University of Technology
BirthdayJune 18th, 1971 (at Kobe, Japan)

Specialized field

Inorganic material science, Pulse power engineering, Manufacturing technology, Environmental
engineering

Research object

Contribution to the community by next-generation manufacturing and environmental design

Career History

2017 Advisor to the president, Nagaoka University of Technology (Strategic Project Manager)
2017 Senior URA, Nagaoka University of Technology (University Research Administrator)
2017 Professor, Nagaoka University of Technology
2010 JSPS Fellow @University of York (UK)2008 Associate Professor, Nagaoka University of Technology
2005 Assistant Professor, Nagaoka University of Technology
2000 Assistant Professor, Osaka University
2000 Ph.D., Osaka University, Graduate School of Engineering Graduate, Department ofApplied Chemistry (Supervisor; Prof. Koichi Niihara)

Educational
Background1997 Master of Eng., Osaka Prefecture University, Graduate School of Engineering,
Department of Material Science (Supervisor; Prof. Toshiyuki Matsui, Prof. Kenji Morii)
1995 Bachelor of Eng., Osaka Prefecture University, Graduate School of Engineering,
Department of Material Science (Supervisor ; Prof. Toshiyuki Matsui, Prof. Yutaka Nakayama)

One Word

We aim to create human resources and technologies that can be active in 2050. I think that theessence of things is grasped and the problem solving method based on that will lead to thecreation of innovation. With this kind of approach, we train people capable of proposing
potential needs, and we are working on region creation by setting up an environment where they
can play an active role in each region of the world.
This laboratory welcomes admission from the graduate school. Students who wish tochallenge new research from graduate schools who are graduate from college oftechnology colleges or other universities would be pleased if they could contact me bye-mail.

Affiliation
Societies

The Ceramics Society of Japan, Applied Physics Society, Powder Engineering Society, The
American Ceramics Society, The Japan Metallurgical Society, The Automobile Manufacturers
Association

Selected Awards

2004 Powder Powder Metallurgy Association, Research Advance Award
2007 The Ceramic Society of Japan, Progress Award
2013 The finalists for the 2013 Journal of Materials Science, Robert W. Cahn Best Paper Prize
2016 Global Star Award, Engineering Ceramics Division, American Ceramics Society
2016 The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
2016 Richard M. Fulrath Award, American Ceramics Society

Access to our laboratory

Niigata Prefecture

Nagaoka City

From Tokyo
Train TOKI (JR Joetsu Shinkansen-Line) go to JR Nagaoka Station (1 hour 45 minutes from Tokyo)
From JR Nagaoka Station, Echigo KOTSU Bus from Otemae Exit Bus Station (Stop No.7) (30 min - 320 Yen)
Our University is final stop (the name of bus stop is GIDAI-MAE)
by TAXI ; It takes about 20 minutes, about 2,700 yen from Nagaoka station.

From Fukuoka, Sapporo, Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai etc.
From Niigata airport by limousine bus to JR Niigata station (25 minutes - 410 yen)
From JR Niigata station to JR Nagaoka station by Train TOKI (Joetsu Shinkansen) (22 minutes)※ JR Niigata⇄ Nagaoka Station, we have special discount ticket [Shinkansen Double tickets (round trip 4,200 yen)].