Summary of Proposal

Host institution nameNational Institute for Materials Science

Head of host institution Teruo Kishi

Center director

Masakazu Aono

Administrative director

Takahiro Fujita

Title of center projectInternational Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics ProjectCenter nameInternational Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA)

Project Summary

Research fields

Research objectives“Sustainable development” is the biggest issue for the 21st century of humanity.
The most probable field of research that Japan can make significant
contributions regarding this issue will be materials science. The center project isdesigned from the viewpoints of the essential importance of materials scienceand the necessity for an international cooperation in effectively promoting
materials science. The purpose of the center is to develop innovative materials
that contribute to sustainable development, based on a new technology system
for materials development called “nanoarchitectonics”, and offer them to theworld. For this purpose, a multinational and interdisciplinary group of
researchers is organized to conduct cutting-edge research in a relaxedinternational environment, and making up of total workforce of about 200 staff.
Main research field: Materials science
Fused other research fields: Chemistry, Physics
Material is a base that supports the foundation of all fields of science andtechnology and is the area where Japan can best show its abilities. It is
self-evident that industries and society of Japan will depend on materials in the
21st century, and it is also obvious that “sustainable development” is notpossible without an innovation in materials. Materials science is actually the
lifeblood for human beings. For the development of new materials required in
the 21st century, the center will work to realize a paradigm shift in materials
development through a new technology system for materials development that
we call “nanoarchitectonics”. Nanoarchitectonics is a technology system toarrange nanoscale functional structural units as a group of atoms or molecules
in an intended configuration. The technology system is critical for practicalapplications of nanotechnology, beyond the stage of nanoscience.
Nanoarchitectonics is also a typical interdisciplinary field that relates widely tosuch fields as materials science, physics, and chemistry.
The development of new materials required in the 21st century can not berealized without a paradigm shift in materials development. The center willrealize the paradigm shift through “nanoarchitectonics”, which is a newtechnology system to arrange nanoscale functional structural units as a groupof atoms or molecules in an intended configuration. The research objective tobe achieved by materials development based on nanoarchitectonics is:“Development of innovative materials required for the realizationof a sustainable society in the 21st century”.
To be more specific, we set the following three objectives (issues to bestudied intensively are shown as examples).
1) Development of innovative materials related to environment, energy

and resource- Superconducting materials (superconducting diamond thin film, etc.)- Battery materials (materials for solid state rechargeable batteries, etc.)- Catalysts (visible light active photocatalyst, etc.)
2) Development of innovative materials for nanoelectronics that lead toinnovations in information and communication technology- Quantum information device materials (novel quantum-bit materials, etc.)- Atomic electronics materials (materials for novel atomic switches, etc.)- Photonic device materials (quasi phase matching element material, etc.)
3) Development of innovative materials that enable the development of
new technologies for diagnosis, treatment and renaturation.
- NT chip materials (nanopiller array, etc.)- Biomaterials (regenerative materials, etc.)
The center, as a basic principle, intends to establish the decision-making
system that can support strong leadership of the center director, and therefore,
it will give him the substantial authority of the center’s operation in general. On
the other hand, it is an important characteristic concerning managerial
operation in the center that the center succeeds and develops the concepts
through the International Center for Young Scientists (ICYS) program, which is
now on operated by NIMS. Utilizing the experience gained from ICYS, theOutline of management center will establish a research environment which is likened to a “melting pot”,
gathering excellent young researchers from various countries. The center aims
to stimulate research and bring an innovation to the fundamental and basic fieldof materials science, respecting as much as possible the free thinking of young
researchers, generated by the stimulation in the melting pot environment. The
center also utilizes this melting pot environment to foster young researchers,
positioning the center as a place to foster young researchers with tenure whowill create the future for NIMS.
Principal Investigators 27 (foreigners 10) ;Total Researchers 167 (foreigners 84)
Total Staff at Core-Center 209 (foreigners 90) All achieved by 2011

Researchers and otherSatellite
center staffs

Univ. Tsukuba, Tokyo Univ. of Science, Cambridge
Univ., CNRS, Univ. California (UCLA), Georgia Inst.
Tech.
Collaboration
Inst. Physics CAS (China), KAIST (Korea), Max Planck
Inst., Charles Univ. (Czech), Univ. California (UCSB) etc.
We will take the following measures to arrange a research environment in thecenter: (1) establish an environment where researchers can devote themselves
to research, enriching assistance related to various clerical procedures andassistance in experiments. Particularly at the center where half of theresearchers come from abroad, we will develop a perfect system to manage theuse of English as the official language so that foreign researchers can devote
themselves to research without having to deal with a language barrier; (2)provide start-up research funds to researchers invited from externalorganizations so that they can launch their own laboratories immediately; (3)Outline of research
secure capable young researchers from all over the world by utilizing ICYS’environment
accumulated recruiting know-how. We also secure researchers including
graduate students through relationships with the University of Tsukuba,
International Joint Graduate Schools and other institutions as well as enrich thecontent of research education; (5) develop a flexible salary system different
from that of NIMS’s main body, and establish a flexible compensation package
to provide appropriate treatment for excellent researchers; (6) provide total
space of approximately 10,000㎡ for the research activities at the center; (7)hold an international research conference once a year, to show that the centeris one of the world’s top-level centers in the material science field.
We can cite such indicators as research outputs (number of papers accepted
Outline of indicators for by renowned journals), ratio of researchers that are considered worthy ofevaluating a center’s being named the world’s top level researchers, the number of foreign
global standing
researchers employed, the total amount of external funds obtained, thenumber of cooperative research projects with private sector corporations, the（Host institution：

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Title of Center Project：）number of patents applied and granted, the conditions of patents exploited,
the number of invited lectures, and conditions relating the number ofacademic society awards received. The ranking of the number of citations ofpapers in the field of materials science presented by ISI can be a strong
indicator to evaluate research institutions, although it is not absolute.
NIMS, of the host institution, now ranks 12th in the world for the number ofcitations of papers over the past 10 years in the materials science field;
however, if taken statistics for the past 5 years, we rank 6th in the world, which
obviously shows that the research activities in NIMS became remarkably active
after it changed its organizational system to that of an independentadministrative institution. We set the final goal to be the top-three of the world
ranking (No. 1 in Japan) at the time of the ex-post evaluation, to get higher thanthe current rank, by leading the main body of NIMS, carrying out theseobjectives at the center in a radically accelerated manner. The rank order canbe deemed sufficient to position NIMS as the world’s top material research
institute.
It would be of particular note that we have acquired an average of one billion
yen every year for the past 3 years as the total amount of external funds thatwere obtained for research by those researchers who are the principal
investigators of the center. It is also worth of mentioning that we have allocatedSecuring researcha total average of approximately 800 million yen to those researchers fromfunding
operational subsidies. Both of these facts verify that we have reasonable direct
costs to conduct world’s top-level research. In 2007, we also succeeded in
obtaining external funds from other MEXT projects, and therefore we believe
we can keep the current level of average funds obtained, or it may exceed thecurrent level.
The center in this concept has two aspects: (1) an advanced research
implementation agency to conduct fundamental and basic research formaterials, fusing fields with chemistry and physics, (2) an institution to foster
researchers who create the future for material research, in an international andinterdisciplinary atmosphere. Looking from the viewpoint of NIMS’s main body,the center is expected to play two roles: to strongly lead NIMS in research andSummary of hostto provide NIMS with young researchers. Therefore, the center is definitely
institution’s commitment
incorporated into the long-term strategies of NIMS’s main body, and theactivities are extremely effective for stimulating the whole of NIMS. For thesereasons, we are willing to make efforts for the center’s smooth operation to thefullest, including, for example, offering of human resources, allocation ofresearch funds, supply of research space and transfer of administration
authority to the center director.

（Host institution：

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Title of Center Project：）

Research Center Project
Host institution nameNational Institute for Materials Science

Head of host institution

Teruo Kishi, President

Title of center projectInternational Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics ProjectCenter nameInternational Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA)
Most technologies that support our society have been realized throughthe development of new materials. This has been true throughout theages. For example, Edison’s electric light bulb was realized using bamboo
from Kyoto 100 years ago, information and communication technologies in
the past 50 years have been supported by silicon, the recent developmentof blue-light emitting devices was achieved using a semiconducting GaN
compound, new fertilizers and agrochemicals have played a critical role inenabling a large increase in food productivity. Furthermore, materials
science is a field in which Japan can best show its abilities. It is also clearthat Japan’s many successes in key industries including automotive,
electrical machinery, and electronics have been supported by its great
ability to develop materials.

Project summary

Various technologies realized through the development of materials
have brought about numerous benefits to humanity and contributed to
improving welfare.
However, several of these technologies are
responsible for such serious problems as global warming andenvironmental pollution. In addition, rapid global industrial expansion,
which is supported by technological development, is generating a new crisis-- a depletion of resources and energy sources. The 21st century is theperiod during which humanity, for the first time, has recognized the enormity
and limits of the planet earth, and the future of humanity depends
substantially on whether or not we can sustain development under thesevere restrictions of energy, environment, resources and food. Serious
problems caused by technologies can not be solved by abandoning
technologies but only by further technological development. To solve thecurrent global crisis, it is of critical importance to promote strongly
cooperative research beyond national borders, thus concentrating thewisdom of scientists and engineers from across the world. Japan has the
responsibility to assume a leading role in this endeavor.
The concept of a world premier research center that we propose here isdesigned from the viewpoints of the essential necessity of materials and theimportance of an international cooperative system for solving problems.
The purpose of the center is to develop and offer new materials that
contribute to a sustainable development. For this purpose, excellent
researchers, especially young researchers who will create a future, will join
the center from across the world and perform intensive research under aninternationally-open environment, based on a new materials development
system “nanoarchitectonics (see below)”. National Institute for Materials
Science (NIMS) is the most appropriate research institute to take theinitiative for the center as the host institution.
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① World’s top-level organization
NIMS is one of the world’s largest research institutes (see the tablebelow) where basic research in materials is conductedcomprehensively, and it has an international reputation for excellence
based on its past research accomplishments, human resources, andfacilities. We now rank 12th in the world for the number of citations ofresearch papers in the past 10 years in the materials science field.
However, over the past 5 years, we rank 6th in the world, whichindicates that the research activities in NIMS increased dramaticallyafter it changed to an independent administrative institution in 2001.
We also have an excellent record for numbers of research papers,
average impact factor, and other indices (see the figure).
Table: Personnel composition in NIMS
NumberPosition
Total(Foreigner)

Researcher

400

（28）

Engineer49（0）Administrative
staff

100

（0）

Subtotal

549

（28）

Post-doc. etc.

661

（150）

Guest Researcher

285

（44）

Total

1495

（222）

Permanent
Employee

Project summary(continued)

Figure: Number of papers and average impact factor of NIMS
② Internationally-open management
We established the International Center for Young Scientists (ICYS)
in 2003, and over the center’s 5 year operation we have accrued agreat deal of experience in the organization of aninternationally-viable research environment including the organizationof a multinational group of young researchers and in the use ofEnglish as the official language, as well as in realizing aninterdisciplinary research environment.

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③ Cooperation with overseas research institutes
We have various international cooperative relationships with key
research institutes around the world. This includes summer schoolsthat have been held regularly in cooperation with Cambridge
University and the University of California for promotion of scientificexchange and fostering of young researchers.
④ Joint graduate school
We have been actively fostering young researchers and developing
cooperation with domestic and foreign universities through various
activities including acceptance of graduate students by domestic andinternational Joint Graduate School Programs, as well as initiation of
the University of Tsukuba Graduate School in NIMS (The Doctoral
Program in Materials Science and Engineering of Graduate School ofPure and Applied Science, University of Tsukuba). Also, we offer“junior researcher” position for an excellent graduate student.
⑤ Technology transfer
We have been active in industrial cooperation, to grasp social needs
and to promote technology transfer, through various activities
including establishing a “platform” system to conduct collaborative
research with enterprises and holding evening seminars (every week)
for researchers in companies (see the figure below for results offunding given from the industrial world).

Project summary(continued)
Figure: Funding from industry
Characteristics of NIMS in terms of performance and potential ofresearch and development are as follows.
① Synthesis of materials
Internationally first-rate research accomplishments and potential
concerning synthesis and processing of materials (For example, theworld's first diamond synthesis by plasma CVD method, discovery of
Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu high-Tc superconductors, synthesis of superplastic
ceramics).
② World’s largest research facilities
Various high-performance large-scale facilities relating to synthesis,
structural observation and physical property measurements, which
are without equal anywhere in the world (high magnetic field facility,
high magnetic field 1 GHz NMR, ultrahigh-pressure synthesis facility,
high-resolution high-voltage electron microscope, Nano Foundry,etc.)③ Advanced nanotechnology
Top-level performance and potential in research fields ofnanotechnology relating to synthesis, control, processing, andstructural and physical property measurements in nanoscale(synthesis and applications of various new nanotubes andnanosheets, atomic switch for integrated circuits, various advanced
nanoscale measurement devices, etc.)
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There is no equivalent independent material research institute thatpossesses those three characteristics. In the center proposed here, we will
promote such research that is difficult to perform in other institutions, byclosely linking these three characteristics as well as developing a newtechnology system “nanoarchitectonics”. Meanwhile NIMS will perform its
duty as a comprehensive research institute for materials science, targetingall materials including metals, ceramics, organic polymers, composite
materials, by using various approaches from various fields including
materials science, chemistry, physics, biological science, and life science.
We are planning to send NIMS’s most experienced researchers fromvarious fields to the center, as well as to invite there top level researchers
from around the world, in order to conduct basic research for materials,
combining the fields of materials science, chemistry and physics.

Project summary(continued)

The development of new materials required in the 21st century can not
be realized without a paradigm shift of materials development. The center
will realize the paradigm shift through a new materials development systemthat is named “nanoarchitectonics”. “Nanoarchitectonics” is a technology
system for arranging nanoscale structural units-- in other words, ananostructure unit as a group of atoms and molecules-- in an intended
configuration. This technology system can be roughly classified into two
fields: “establishment of nanomaterials” and “establishment of
nanosystems”. A typical example of the former is one recent achievementof NIMS, where new composite materials consisting of nanosheets andheterogeneous substances were synthesized for the first time bysoft-chemical layer-by-layer processing of nanosheets that were had been
prepared in advance using a soft-chemical delamination technique oflayered materials. With the enhancement of this method, it will be possible
to synthesize various new materials that show unique functions. A typicalexample of the latter is the development of a nanoelectronics circuit. At
present, challenging electronic devices are produced experimentally, using
carbon nanotubes and functional molecules. In the “establishment of
nanosystems”, these devices are required to be integrated and linked as asystem. This will open the new way to the development of innovative
devices. On the other hand, key technology components innanoarchitectonics are “artificial” self-organization”, ”field-induced material
control”, ”chemical nanomanipulation”, and ”atom/molecule novel
manipulation”. In addition, theoretical and computational approach is quite
important for conducting research effectively.
Nanoarchitectonics is an exceedingly dominant method for realizing
innovative functions and performance that keep up with complex
requirements for materials. The center will make the best use of thistechnology with the aim of developing new materials that contribute tosustainable development. Namely, the goal of research in the center is the“development of innovative materials that enable new technologies required
for the realization of a sustainable society in the 21st century”, with a newparadigm of materials development based on nanoarchitectonics. To be
more specific, we set the three objectives as shown below together with themain types of materials to be studied intensively.
1) Development of innovative materials related to environment,
energy and resource
Examples:Superconducting materials (superconducting diamond thin film, etc.)
Battery materials (materials for solid state rechargeable batteries, etc.)
Catalysts (visible light active photocatalyst, etc.)
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2) Development of innovative materials for nanoelectronics that leadto innovations in information and communication technology
Examples:Quantum information device materials (novel quantum-bit materials,
etc.)
Atomic electronics materials (materials for novel atomic switches, etc.)
Photonic device materials (quasi phase matching element material,etc.)3) Development of innovative materials that enable the developmentof new technologies for diagnosis, treatment and renaturation.
Examples:DNT chip materials (nanopiller array, etc.)
Biomaterials (regenerative materials, etc.)

Project summary(continued)

To realize the paradigm shift in materials development and achieve theobjectives of research, we will start the project, selecting form NIMS andother domestic and overseas institutes 22 principal investigators who havethe most excellent abilities and careers. During the project, we will findadditional principal investigators, including Asian (non Japanese)
researchers, resulting in a final total of about 27. (Indeed, it has been
decided that a distinguished Swiss researcher will join the center from 2008
if this proposal is accepted. Moreover, we will make efforts to increase thenumber of female principal investigators (although there is only one at thepresent stage.) Under the principal investigators, the center will arrange
the lineup consisting of about 200 staff in total including technical staff, andselect and organize excellent young researchers.
Regarding managerial operation, the center will succeed and develop
the concepts from the International Center for Young Scientists (ICYS)
program, which is now being operated by NIMS. NIMS established ICYS in
2003 supported by the “Program for Fostering Strategic Research Centers”,
a Special Coordination Fund for Promoting Science and Technology of the
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
Operating ICYS, where talented young multinational researchers gather tostudy independently in a “melting pot” environment with mixing of different
research fields and different cultures, we have been conducting
cutting-edge research and nurturing research leaders of the next
generation, as well as promoting the internationalization of NIMS’s main
body using a spillover effect. The basic concepts of ICYS are as follows:① Research center consisting of multinational groups of young
researchers② Internationalized management using English as the official
language③ Promotion of interdisciplinary research in a “melting pot”
environment with mixing of different research fields and different
cultures④ Research management that respects the ideas of individual
researchers.
ICYS has been given high marks for its activities, as receiving an “A” ina comprehensive evaluation using a 4-point scale “ABCD” in the interim
assessment conducted by the MEXT.

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Utilizing the experience of ICYS, the center will establish a “melting pot”
research environment, gathering excellent young researchers from various
countries. The center will respect the novel and freewheeling ideas of young
researchers as much as possible and the “melting pot” research environment
will be an ideal incubation apparatus for such ideas. As detailed later, thecenter also utilizes this “melting pot” environment to foster young researchers,
contributing to the main body of NIMS by providing young staff researchers.
In addition to the basic concepts of ICYS, the center will adopt uniquesystems, such as the examples shown below, to thoroughly promote theintegration of different fields and to foster young researchers.
Mentor system: Principal investigators will be positioned as “mentors” andwill decide the basic direction of research leading young
researchers with, as far as possible, respect for their researchideas.
3D system (Double-mentor, Double-discipline, Double-affiliation system):Young researchers will belong to two organizations (center plus
satellite or cooperative institute), have two disciplines and be led by
two mentors. This rule aims to promote interdisciplinary alliancesamong different fields and to foster far-sighted researchers with aninterdisciplinary background.

Project summary(continued)

Active cooperation with universities:
The center will accept many graduate students, especially foreign
graduate students, who can contribute to conduct the center’s
research as junior researchers and to enrich the “melting pot”
environment, by improving and expanding the University ofTsukuba Graduate School in NIMS and International Joint
Graduate Schools with foreign universities as well as by utilizing
other invitation programs for students.
One of the characteristics of the center is that it will be definitely
incorporated into the long-term strategies of the main body of NIMS, whichis the host institution. The research objectives of the center are perfectly
consistent with the mid-to-long term objectives of NIMS, and therefore, thecenter will play a principle role to lead the main body of NIMS by carryingout these objectives in a radically accelerated manner. We expect that,
not only the center itself, but NIMS as a whole, can finally attain a top
ranking position internationally. On the other hand, the center will also
undertake a role to nurture research leaders of the next generation taking
advantage of the center’s international and interdisciplinary atmosphere.
We have decided that, if this proposal is realized, NIMS’s new staff
researchers with tenure will be chosen, in principle, from young researchersof the center. Thus, the center will be positioned as an organization to
supply human resources to the main body of NIMS. Therefore, it is quite
important from the viewpoint of NIMS that the center undertakes the role offostering of researchers in addition to the implementation of cutting-edge
research. We should be able to activate the whole of research at NIMS,
supported by these two actions of the center.
The gathering of a multinational, multicultural and multidisciplinarygroup of young researchers under the leadership of world class principal
investigators (mentors) is the most important part of the center’s structure.
Formation of such a group is difficult within the main body of NIMS and this“melting pot” research system of the center will be a stimulating
environment for scientific breakthroughs.
(Illustration for the center organization on the next page)（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
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International Center for
SupportMaterials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA)
Research:

Development of materials necessary
for sustainable development

NanoSystems
NanoSystemsOrganization
Organization

NanoMaterials
NanoMaterialsCreation
Creation

Materials Nanoarchitectonics
Four key technologies“Artificial”
Self-Organization

Field Induced
Materials Control

Modeling and theories

ChemicalNano-Manipulation

Atom/Molecule
Novel Manipulation

World’s top-level researchachievements
World’s top-level researchfacilities

Feedback

Mentor System
3D system
・DoubleDouble-mentor
・DoubleDouble-discipline
・DoubleDouble-affiliation

Joint Universities- Tsukuba Univ. Graduate
School at NIMS
- International Joint Graduate
SchoolWarsaw Univ. Tech., Poland,Charles Univ., Czech, etc.

Six Satellite Institutes
Univ. Tsukuba

The world’s largest-scale
research institute inmaterials science andengineering

Advanced analysis and measurement

Management: Fostering of “Emerging Leaders”“Melting-Pot” research
environment for
fostering young
scientists- Independent- Innovation- Interdisciplinary- International

NIMS

Cambridge Univ.

Georgia Inst. Tech.

UCLA・ Provision of young
staff researchers to
NIMS
・ Activation ofresearch in NIMS
・ Internationalization of
NIMS
・ Fostering ofInterdisciplinary
research in NIMS

CNRSTokyo Univ. Sci.

Collaborative Institutes（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
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(1) Research fields
The 21st century is, without doubt, the century where humanity, for the first time in its
experience, recognizes the enormity and limits of the earth. The future of humanity depends onwhether or not we can find a way to sustain development, under severe restrictions of energy,
environment, resources and food. To solve this common issue for all humanity, the most dominantfield of research that Japan can contribute will be in materials science. Materials form the basic
foundation that supports all technologies, and is the area where Japan can best show its abilities. In
fact, the many successes of Japan in key industries such as automotive, electrical machinery, andelectronics have been realized by the development of materials. It is self-evident that industries andsociety of Japan will be depending on materials in the 21st century, and it is also true that“sustainable development” is not possible without an innovation in materials. Materials science isactually the lifeblood for human beings.
For the development of new materials that will be required in the 21st century, the center isworking to realize a paradigm shift in materials research through a new materials development
system named “nanoarchitectonics”. “Nanoarchitectonics” is a technology system to arrange
nanoscale structural units -- in other words, a nanostructure unit as a group of atoms and molecules-in an intended configuration. This technology is critical for development of nanotechnology, beyond
the stage of nanoscience. “Nanoarchitectonics” is also a typical interdisciplinary field that relates
widely to such fields as material science, physics, and chemistry.

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(2) Research objectivesa) Research Objectives
The development of new materials required in the 21st century can not be realized without aparadigm shift in materials development. The center will realize this paradigm shift through“nanoarchitectonics”, which is a new technology system for arranging nanoscale functional structuralunits, such as a group of atoms or molecules, in an intended configuration. The research objective tobe achieved by materials development based on nanoarchitectonics is:“Development of innovative materials required for the realization ofa sustainable society in the 21st century”.
To be more specific, we set the following three objectives (issues to be studied intensively are shown
as examples).
1)

Development of innovative materials related to environment, energy and resource
Examples:Superconducting materials (superconducting diamond thin film, etc.)
Battery materials (materials for solid state rechargeable batteries, etc.)
Catalysts (visible light active photocatalyst, etc.)2)Development of innovative materials for nanoelectronics that lead to innovations in
information and communication technology
Examples:Quantum information device materials (novel quantum-bit materials, etc.)
Atomic electronics materials (materials for novel atomic switches, etc.)
Photonic device materials (quasi phase matching element material, etc.)3)Development of innovative materials that enable the development of new technologies
for diagnosis, treatment and renaturation.
Examples:DNT chip materials (nanopiller array, etc.)
Biomaterials (regenerative materials, etc.)b) Research planAs stated at the beginning of this document, requirements for new materials to realize newtechnologies required in the 21st century are advancing, and the development of new materials thatcan respond to such requirements can not be realized without a paradigm shift in material
development. Our research center aims to realize this paradigm shift through a new technology
system that is named “nanoarchitectonics”.
Prior to an explanation of “nanoarchitectonics”, we would like to confirm the appropriateness of thevision that nanoscale structural control is important to create new functions, which has been accepted
widely, regardless of whether it is macro structural material, micro electronic device material, inorganic
materials, organic materials, or biomechanical materials. Through a remarkable development overthese recent 20 years in nanoscience and nanotechnology, it was verified in many instances that new
functions can be created by controlling structures at the nanoscale.
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It was hoped that that dreamlike development would be awaiting us in the future of remarkabledevelopments in nanotechnology. However, recently a question has arisen relating to whether
nanotechnology is really developing as expected. The question arose coincidentally by the recent
recognition that a sort of breakthrough is inevitable for the practical use of nanotechnology, beyond thenanoscience level. Such a breakthrough will be made by pioneering a new technology system forcreation of a new function of the whole unit, by arranging individual nanostructual units that haveuseful functions in an intended configuration. Such a technological system is called“Nanoarchitectonics”.＊＊

Note: The word “Nanoarchitectonics” in this context was first used at theFirst International Symposium on Nanoarchitectonics Using Suprainteractions(NASI-1) for which Dr. Aono (Prospective Center Director) served as chairman.
The second symposium, NASI-2, was held in Los Angeles and chaired byProfessor Jim Gimzewski of UCLA (one of the chief researchers of this research
center), and the third symposium NASI-3 is scheduled to be held in Cambridge
and will be chaired by Professor Mark Welland of Cambridge University (also
one of the chief researchers of this research center).

“Nanoarchitectonics” is a technological system to arrange nanoscale functional structural units asa group of atoms and molecules in an intended configuration. The purpose is to produce a new
function of the whole unit through concerted interaction between nanostructures, so it is needless to
say that fundamental research in the related materials science field is included. Nanoarchitectonics
can be roughly classified into two fields, “NanoSystem Organization” and “NanoMaterials Creation”(See Figure 1). A typical example of the “NanoSystem Organization” is the development of ananoelectronics circuit. Challenging electronic devices are produced experimentally, using carbon
nanotubes, functional molecules, etc., but the practical use is impossible without a technology tointegrate and link these devices into a system. A typical example of the “NanoMaterials Creation” issynthesis of a new material that does not exist in nature by combining and laminating heterogenous
substances with “nanosheets” that were obtained by chemical exfoliation from a layered material. With
the enhancement of this technique, it will be possible to synthesize various new materials that showinteresting functions.

Figure 1: New paradigm in material development through materials “nanoarchitectonics”
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Technologies used in nanoarchitectonics can be roughly classified into 4 techniques: (1)atom/molecule novel manipulation; (2) chemical nanomanipulation, (3) field-induced material
control; and (4) “artificial” self-assembly and organization (“artificial” means “controlled” or “guided”);
see Figure 1. In addition, theoretical and computational approach is quite important for conducting
research effectively. The capabilities and features of each technique are illustrated in Figure 2, using
actual examples (all of these examples are selected from the world’s first research of their kind
performed at NIMS).
Novel atom/molecule manipulation is a method to control the configuration or the coupling state ofindividual atoms and molecules using proximity probes including scanning tunneling microscope(STM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). This method has excellent advantages unsurpassed byother methods, in terms of arbitrary operation on single atoms and molecules, although there is a
disadvantage in terms of time consumption when handling a number of atoms and molecules.
However, it is thought to be better to use the advantages of this method and overcome thedisadvantage, rather than abandon this method because of its disadvantage. This disadvantage may
be conquered by massively parallel use of probes combined with self-organization of materials.
Chemical nanomanipulation is a method to control nanoscale substances by skillfully utilizing chemical
equilibrium states and non-equilibrium states in a liquid or solid phase, temporally and spatially. Thismethod enables nanomanipulation of various substances. Field-induced materials control is a method
which uses changes in physical states dexterously through the intervention of electric fields, magnetic
fields, electromagnetic fields (light, X-ray), and stress fields. Such efforts have been made conductedto date, but the research center will actively endeavor to pioneer new methods. To cite an example,
NIMS found that the positions of molecules which are able to move relatively freely on a substrate canbe immobilized by X-ray irradiation with a wavelength specific to those molecules, after arranging themolecules in an intended configuration. “Artificial self-assembly and organization is at the opposite endof the above atom/molecule novel manipulation. The latter is an artificial method to forcibly manipulate
individual atoms and molecules, but this method relies on interactive forces specific to atoms andmolecules. Hence, diverse effective nanoarchitectonics may be realized by the successful combinationof both methods. Many studies in this research center will be related to the task of combination.

Figure 2: Illustration of materials nanoarchitectonics
Making full use of the above nanoarchitectonics concept, the center will endeavor to realize a newparadigm shift in material development. It would be difficult to achieve such a study based on
nanoarchitectonics, if it were not conducted in a research institute above a certain size endowed,
which possesses excellent human resources, experience and facilities. Thus, NIMS is a highly
appropriate research institute for promoting such studies. This will be detailed in the following
paragraph.
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To realize the above-mentioned paradigm shift in materials development and to achieve theabove-mentioned research objectives, we will start the project, selecting form NIMS and otherdomestic and overseas institutes 22 principal investigators who have the most excellent abilities andcareers. During the project, we will find additional principal investigators including Asian (nonJapanese) researchers resulting in final number of about 27. (Indeed, it has been decided that a
distinguished Swiss researcher will join the center from 2008 if this proposal is accepted. Moreover,
we will make effort to increase number of female principal investigator though it is only one at thepresent stage.)
Out of 22 principal investigators, 14 investigators are from NIMS, the hostinstitution, and 8 investigators are from external institutions. Regarding the 8 investigators fromexternal institutions, 5 investigators are from abroad and 3 investigators are from Japan. 7 of 22
principal investigators are foreign national investigators. 16 of the 23 principal investigators areinternationally known top-class investigators (asterisks denote these people). Figure 3 illustrates how
these principal investigators will be involved in the establishment of the new paradigm shift in material
development through nanoarchitectonics as well as in the research stated in the above 1) to 3)
research objectives.
Theoretical modeling and designing

Advanced analysis and measurement

C. Joachim*, X. Hu

NIMS facilities★

★
Chemical
NanoManipulation
T. Sasaki*, Z.-L. Wang*,
Y. Bando*, D. Golberg,

Materials necessary forsustainable development

J. Gimzewski*, M. Aono*,

Environment &energyD. Fujita, T. Hasegawa
C. Gerber (2008-)

J. Ye

Information &communication★

Atom / Molecule
Novel Manipulation

Diagnosis &treatment★

“Artificial” Selforganization

Field-induced
Materials Control

Y. Nagasaki*, K. Hono*,E. Muromachi*, H. Takayanagi*,

K. Ariga*, N.Ohashi,

K. Kadowaki*, K. Kitamura*,

O. Yaghi (2008-)

Y. Sakka*, M. Welland*

Top-down micro/nanofabrication( NanoFoundry at NIMS )Figure 3: Research Implementation Systemc) Past results
Past results of NIMS, the host institution, are summarized as follows, concerning results
necessary to form a world premier research center.
<Material synthesis>
In terms of materials synthesis and control, NIMS has achieved excellent results and gained
experience that is unsurpassed anywhere in the world, and which has been nurtured over many
years. The following shows examples of this.
1)
2)
3)
4)

5)
6)
7)
8)
9)

First successful fabrication of diamond thin films by plasma assisted chemical vapor
deposition
Ultrahigh-pressure synthesis of single-crystal diamond
Discovery and structural identification of bismuth oxide high-temperature superconductors
Growth of single-crystal dielectrics of the world’s largest size and highest quality, A
venture company which was founded on this research has grown to become an enterprisewith a capital of 281,000,000 yen (as of July 2006)
Basic research and practical use of an excellent electron emission material of
single-crystal lanthanum hexaboride
Development of various super-heat-resistant alloys, the development of “super steel”,
which is unparalleled by any other in the world
Development and practical use of coiled wire fabrication technology of high-temperature
superconducting materials
Discovery of the cobalt oxide superconductor
Development of super high-speed plastic ceramics
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10)
11)

12)
13)
14)
15)
16)
17)

Production of the superconducting diamond films
Construction of various nanostructures by means of manipulating atoms and moleculessince the inauguration of the Aono Atomcraft Project under the ERATO programorganized 18 years ago
Discovery and application of atomic switches resulting from atomic and molecular
manipulation
Formation of conductive polymer chains at desired locations by chain polymerization
Development of memory with bit density greater than 100 Tb/in2 by using C60 molecules
Development of a nanothermometer using carbon nanotubes
Discovery and use of metal oxide nanosheets with useful functions
Realization of semiconductor quantum dots, of which even the internal structure iscontrolled, by droplet epitaxy<The world’s largest research facilities>
We are equipped with a series of large high-performance facilities related to structuralobservation and measurement of material properties that are unique in the world. The followingshows examples.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

World’s strongest magnetic field generator
Ultra high-voltage, high-resolution transmission electron microscopes
World’s highest-frequency nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer using thestrong magnetic field generator
Ultrahigh-pressure generator that can be used even for the fabrication of artificial diamond
Exclusive beamline at the synchrotron radiation facility (SPring-8)
High-current metal ion beam generator<Advanced nanotechnology>
We hold records achieved by a series of unique high-level nanotechnology-related researchfacilities relating to nanoscale synthesis, control, process and measurement of materials. The
following shows examples.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)

Synthesis of various novel nanotubes
Synthesis of novel nanosheets
Construction of atomic switches
Synthesis of functional supramolecules
Development of multiprobe scanning probe microscope (nanotester)Development of scanning tunneling microscope that works at extremely low temperatures,in strong magnetic fields, and in ultrahigh vacuum
Development of computational science including the development of a new “order N”
methodThere are no other equivalent independent material research institutes that are equipped withthese three attributes. We suggest that a world premier research center promoting
nanoarchitectonics-related research, that would be difficult to implement at other institutions, can becreated by integrating these three characteristics.

（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
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(3) Managementi) Prospective center director

Name:
Current Affiliation:
Position Title:
Specialties:

Masakazu Aono (63 years old as of 1 Oct. 2007)
National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Fellow
Coordinating Director of Key Nanotechnologies Field
Nanoscience, nanotechnology, nanoelectronics, surface physics and chemistry<Brief Biography>
Masakazu Aono obtained his doctoral degree from the University of Tokyo in 1972, and was
subsequently a research staff member of the National Institute for Research in Inorganic Materials(NIRIM) until 1986, during which time he spent two years (1978-1980) as a visiting professor at the
University of Wisconsin, USA. He moved to the Institute for Physical and Chemical Research(RIKEN) in 1982 and organized/managed the Surface and Interface Laboratory until 2002 as thechief scientist at the laboratory. From 1996 to 2005, he was concurrently a professor of Atomic
Precision Technology at Osaka University. In 2002, he assumed his present position at the National
Institute for Materials Science (NIMS).
<Outstanding Research>
Dr. Masakazu Aono is highly recognized worldwide for his many distinguished research
results over 35 years in the fields of surface science, nanoscience, and nanotechnology. His
research is characterized by originality for making epochal advances and by surprising results.
The research is outlined in Appendix 2. The research, the research results achieved, and his
qualities as a project leader are detailed below:① Development of a unique electron emission material
In one of the research projects early of his career, he disclosed, for the first time, thereasons why lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6), which is widely used today in electron
microscopes and electron-beam lithography machines as an electron emitter, has anabnormally low work function (~2.3 eV). Based on this result, and jointly with hiscolleagues and the firm (DENKA), he developed it into a commercial product, “LaB6single-crystal electron emitter”, and released it to the world market.
② Development of ion scattering spectroscopy
He invented a new method of ion scattering spectroscopy, which facilitated analysis of
structures of solid surfaces (not only the outermost layer but also the second and thirdlayers), namely Impact Collision Ion Scattering Spectroscopy (ICISS) and its developed
form, coaxial ICIASS (CAICISS). CAICISS was developed into a commercial product by
an industrial firm (Shimadzu Corporation) and was awarded the New Industrial ProductsAward for the annual top ten chosen by the Nikkan Kogyo (Daily Industry) Newspaper.
③ Aono Atomcraft ProjectIn 1989, he organized the Aono Atomcraft Project of the ERATO program led by the Japan
Science and Technology Agency (JST) and conducted a study to develop nanostructures bymeans of atom manipulation through probes of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM),
thus taking the initiative in today’s development of nanotechnology (which was almost 18
years ago).
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④ Leading nanoscience and technology research
Through consecutively presiding over the projects of the CREST, SORST, and ICORP
programs led by JST, he has accomplished various outstanding results in the fields ofnanoscience and nanotechnology.
For example, one of the accomplishments isdevelopment of a multi-probe type STM which uses two, three, and four probes, instead ofone, to enable measurement of electrical conductivity of a nanostructure by using each of
the probes as a nano electrode contacted with any given point of any given nanostructure(“Nanotester”). Another example is the invention of an atomic switch which operates bycontrolling movement of a small number of atoms, which has already progressed to a stageof practical study conducted jointly with an industrial firm (NEC). (NEC has launched astudy using its manufacturing line in Sagamihara for manufacturing the programmable ICs
using an atomic switch.) Further, having developed a technology which can induce chain
polymerization by simple application of a stimulus to one point on a monomolecular film
forming one polymerized molecular chain (conductive pi-conjugated polymer chain) at any
position, he is now working on a study of a new type of switching device and photon
generating device by utilizing the technology. Most recently, he developed the technology
to enable elemental analysis of nanostructure, which appears in an STM image throughcombination of synchrotron X-rays and STM.
<Awards and Honors>
For his creative research, Dr. Aono is highly credited worldwide, and he has been named a
Fellow of the American Vacuum Society (USA) and the Institute of Physics (UK), and was awarded
the Surface Science Society of Japan Prize, the Minister of Science and Technology Award, theMinister of Education, Culture, Science and Technology Award, and a number of other awards.
He has chaired several international conferences, participated in the operation of more than 30
international conferences as an organizational committee member, etc, and has been invited tomore than 130 international conferences.
<Personality as a Project Leader>
Dr. Aono has experience and a good record in organizing and operating a large number of
research projects, part of which has already been mentioned above. Furthermore, through his
experience and excellence in many international collaborative research projects, such as theinternational collaborative research project between UK and Japan under JST’s International
Cooperative Research Project, he has built a strong network of contacts across the world. He is
also devoted to the education of young students as he was a professor of Osaka University for nine
years. Currently he is serving as a Fellow of NIMS, the host institute of this research center, andis concurrently the Coordinating Director of key nanotechnological fields and the Managing Directorof the NanoSystem Functionality Center, having a great reputation for excellence in NIMS. He
actually served as the key person in the establishment of the Second Midterm Plan of NIMS whichstarted in 2006. More importantly, Dr. Aono has wide and profound knowledge both offundamental and applied material science, whose recent activities are focused on the developmentof materials science.

（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
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ii) Prospective administrative director

Name:
Takahiro Fujita (55 years old as of 1 Oct. 2007)
Current Affiliation: National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Position Title:
General Manager, Integrated Strategy Office
1977
1977
1987
2001

Master of Engineering, University of TokyoNKK Corporation
Master of Science, Virginia Tech
National Institute for Materials Science

After an engagement in R&D work at a private firm, he had ten years of experience as the headof its research planning division and personnel division. Therefore, he is well versed intechnology management and personnel policies. Having two years experience of study in theU.S, he has a good language skill and is internationally-minded. Since his appointment to theInstitute in 2001, he served as Manager of the Integrated Strategy Office,Deputy-Director-General of the International Center for Young Scientists, General Manager of
the Public Relations Office, and General Manager of the International Office. Currently he isserving as General Manager of the Integrated Strategy Office, which controls the overallmanagement of the institute, and which has contributed greatly to the establishment andimproved operation at this Institute since its incorporation as an independent administrative
institution. Because of his distinguished management capability and good track record in theplanning and coordination division, combined with distinguished language skills andinternational sensibility, he is very well suited to serve as the head of the administrative divisionof this international center.

iii) Composition of administrative staff
Starting in 2003, NIMS has about five years experience in research, using English as the official
language of ICYS activities. Therefore, it has the advantage of being able to perform both efficient andinternational administrative operation by making the best use of its experience and know-how acquiredin ICYS. All the documents regarding, for example, office routine regulations, purchase of items, andofficial trips are today already available both in Japanese and English. As a result, an environment of
supporting documentation is close to perfection so that foreigner researchers can devote themselvesto their study without a language barrier.
Based on the experience in ICYS, we will establish three groups including planning, generalaffairs, and technical assistance for efficient operation of the administrative division with the use ofEnglish as the official language. Further segmentation of the administrative division into planninggroup, personnel group, general affairs group, accounting group, supplies group, etc. would adversely
affect improvements in efficiency and would impose inconvenience especially to foreigners. It is
important to establish an administrative system where each person can handle clerical work as widely
as possible.
.
・Planning Group: Responsible for operations regarding employment and planning, such as
recruiting, as well as employment of young researchers such as postdoctoral researchers,
regular performance evaluation of researchers, holding of symposiums, and public relations
as well as publication. Run by about five staff members under the supervision of theplanning group leader (a middle-ranking researcher of NIMS)
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・ General Affairs Group: Responsible for general affairs, accounting, and clerical work
regarding researchers’ attendance record, payroll, official trips, and purchase of supplies.
Run by about 15 staff members under the supervision of the general affairs group leader(assign a NIMS employee who has good experience with ICYS). Especially, with the aimof reducing clerical work for researchers, we will hire about 10 secretaries, who will carry out
all the clerical work for researchers. The secretaries hired as staff members of the generalaffairs group must have English language skills equivalent to a TOEIC score of 850 points ormore. In addition, five administrative staff will join to the center from NIMS.
・Technical Assistance Group: Responsible for technical assistance work such as maintenanceand control of shared devices used in the center, services in response to requests fromresearchers, and research assistance. A system will be established so that routine
experiments can be conducted by technicians as much as possible. For this purpose,approximately 15 persons who are former NIMS’s researchers (retirement people with aPh.D degree) with good research backgrounds and English speaking proficiency are
employed at the final stage for establishment of a system capable of high-level technicalassistance. In addition, five technical assistants will join to the center from NIMS.

iv) Decision-making system
The center, as its basic principle, intends to establish a decision-making system that can support
strong leadership of the center director. In addition, the center intends to minimize the number of
meetings in its operation so that the researchers can devote themselves to their studies.
Principal investigators meeting: The principal investigators meeting will be held on a regularbasis (about once every month) and will be led by the center director. Matters concerning
center operation in general wil be discussed and reported under the full leadership of thecenter director. Also, the principal investigators must clearly communicate the intentions of
the center director to all the young researchers and graduate students concerned.
Advisors: The center will take advice on the management and other issues from knowledgeable
outsiders.

v) Allocation of authority between the center director and the host institution’s side
・Concretely describe how authority is allocated between the center director and the host institution’s side.

Director of the center: The director of the center will be given authority over the center’s operationin general. In other words, the center director will have authority in employment, renewal ofcontracts, payroll, research expenses, and space allocation for researchers including senior
and young researchers of the center, etc. who are invited to the center, except for those whoare enrolled in the main body NIMS. His authority also includes employment and renewal ofcontracts administrative staff members of the center, except for those who are enrolled in themain body NIMS.
President: The president, as the responsible person of the host institute, supports the center
operation to the fullest extent, while respecting the authority of the director over the operationof the center. However, upon some situations such as receipt of any advice from theSteering Committee and NIMS Executive Board, the president can make personnel changes
to the center director, principal investigators invited from external organizations, etc.
Further, according to need, he must take various additional measures necessary for thecenter operation including, for example, improvement of the experimental space andadditional assignment of NIMS researchers.

（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
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(4) Researchers and other center staffsi) The “core” to be established within the host institutiona) Principal Investigators (full professors, associate professors or other researchers of comparable
standing)
numbers

Researchers from within
the host institution
Foreign researchers invitedfrom abroad
Researchers invited from otherJapanese institutions
Total principal investigators

At beginning

At end of FY 2007

14

14

4

4

3

3

21

21

Final goal
(Date: month, year)16(1.10.2011)7(1.10.2011)4(1.10.2011)27(1.10.2011)b) Total members
Numbers
At beginning90

At beginning90

At beginning90(56 / 40 %)21(56 / 40 %)21(7 / 32 %)69(7 / 32 %)69(7 / 32 %)69(24 / 40%)
Research support staffs(24 / 40%)
17
20

(24 / 40%)17
20

(56 / 40 %)27(10 / 37 %)(1.10.2011)140(74 / 53%)
(1.10.2011)
17
20

177

177

177

Researchers(Number of foreign researchersamong them and their percentage)
21

Administrative staffs
Total number of people who form
the “core” of the research center

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ii) Collaboration with other institutions
The center intends to promote effectively top world-level research that is appropriate to theworld’s center of substance and material research. At the same time, with the aim of fostering young
researchers on the international level, it will collaborate actively with domestic and foreign research
institutes. The center establishes two kinds of affiliates which are satellite institutes and collaborative
institutes. The satellite institutes will serve as center’s branches. On the other hand, based on the
MOU agreement, the collaborative institutes carry out collaborative research and personnel exchangewith the center.
Recently, NIMS has successfully organized the World Materials Research Institute Forum for
global networking of materials institutions. Learning from this, the center will organize a World
Nanotechnology Research Institute Forum and make efforts in global networking and global researchcollaboration in the field of nanotechnology and nanomaterials. Moreover, by participating in“Nanotechnology Network Japan Program (MEXT Innovation Support Program)” in which NIMS isdeeply involved, the center will strengthen domestic network with Japan’s nanotechnology related
institutes.
Satellite Institutes: Research institutes to which principal investigators invited from externalorganizations belong are referred to as the satellite institutes. By December, 2007, the centerplans to set up satellite institutes at the University of Tsukuba, University of Cambridge, UCLA,
Georgia Institute of Technology and CNRS. The satellite institutes will play an important role in
conducting research and are expected to be bridgeheads of the center.
・University of Tsukuba: Professor K. Kadowaki and Professor Y. Nagasaki are world
leading researchers on superconductivity and organic chemistry, respectively. Their two
satellite laboratories are set up in the University of Tsukuba with the intention ofcomplementing the center’s research activity and they will be bridgeheads of the center for
the University of Tsukuba. Each of the laboratories will have stationed a few young
researchers who are hired by the center to conduct research.
For the purpose of human resources cultivation, NIMS has already set up a Doctoral
Program in Materials Science and Engineering at the Graduate School of Pure and Applied
Sciences, University of Tsukuba. The center will accept many graduate students who cancontribute to the research of the center as the junior researchers, utilizing this collaboration
system with the University of Tsukuba.
・Tokyo University of Science: Professor Takayanagi, who is a world distinguishedresearcher of superconducting devices, will join the center, conducting thesuperconducting-device related research. NIMS is not very strong in this field. This satellite
will be a bridgehead of the center to conduct joint research with the Tokyo University of
Science.
・University of Cambridge: Professor Mark Welland, as Director of Interdisciplinary
Research Center in Nanotechnology (IRC) of UK, is a world leader in nanoscience as wellas in nanotechnology, especially with a focus on superfine processing by using an electron
beam and creation of nanostructures. He has also served as a scientific adviser to the UK
Prime Minister. He will join the research activities at this center with regard to the study ofnanostructure fabrication. This satellite will play an important part in conducting the researchof the center and will be a bridgehead of the center for the University of Cambridge.

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・UCLA: Professor James Gimzewski is very well known as the researcher who has
established the foundation of today’s nanoscience and nanotechnology at the IBM Zurich
Research Laboratory immediately after the invention of the scanning tunneling microscope.
After moving to UCLA several years ago, he launched a study concerning fusion of
nanotechnology and biotechnology and has performed ingenious research including his
recent invention of a desktop size fusion device. He participates in the center’s researchconcerning manifestation of new functions of nanostructures and their measurement,
playing an important role in the project. This satellite will be a bridgehead of the center for
UCLA.
・ Georgia Institute of Technology: Professor Z. Wang is an outstanding researcher inthe field of nanotechnology, who is ranked among the world’s top 25 by having a total
number of article citation of over 15,000. In particular, his discovery of the ZnO nanobelt
has drawn attention as a new material applicable in piezoelectric elements and inbiosensors (total cited numbers: 1,519 times). This satellite will contribute to the project
mainly in the electronic materials field and will be a bridgehead of the center for the Georgia
Institute of Technology.

・CNRS: Professor Christian Joachim is the leading authority who has clarified theelectronic states of nanostructures, especially the electronic state of functional molecules,
by means of first-principle calculations. On the other hand, by organizing a groupconsisting of experimentalists and theorists, he is now devoted to the realization of
single-molecule devices. He is expected to join this research center for theoretical study of
new nanostructure functions, leading the theoretical research. This satellite will be abridgehead of the center for CNRS.
Collaborative Institutes: These institutes are expected to serve as sites for collaborative
research with the center as well as exchange and training of young researchers. Among about
130 institutes in Asia, Europe, North America, East Europe, etc. with which NIMS already has
MOU agreements, approximately 30 major institutes including, for example, Institute of Physics,
Chinese Academy of Science (China), KAIST (Korea), Max Planck Institute (Germany), Charles
University (Czech), and UCSB (U.S.) are serving as the collaborative institutes. It is further
planned that MOU agreements will be signed with an additional 10 institutes by December, 2007
and with a further additional 20 institutes by December, 2008.
Overseas Offices: With the aim of strengthening overseas collaborations of the center and
NIMS, overseas offices will be set up in UCSB, University of Washington and others. They are
expected to conduct recruiting and investigation into the current research trend overseas. In
particular, they will play roles in obtaining US-governmental funds from organizations such as
DARPA and NSF and will also serve as liaisons for foreign personnel, for foreign enterprises,
and for collaboration with overseas universities.

（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
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(５) Research Environmenti)
The following factors are required to establish an environment where researchers can devote
themselves to their research: 1) to develop a clerical work support system, so that paperwork forbusiness trips or the purchase of supplies can be promptly processed in support of the researchers’
work; 2) to provide researchers with sufficient technical staff for the maintenance of equipment,
services in response to requests from researchers or assistance in experiments; 3) to minimize thefrequency of conferences for the improvement of communication; 4) to provide assistance toresearchers and their family for their life in Japan when necessary. Since half of the researchers at
the center will come from abroad, we will develop a system to manage the use of English as theofficial language so that foreign researchers can devote themselves to research without having todeal with a language barrier.
Clerical work support system in English: Through five years’ experience at ICYS, a clerical work
support system using English as the official language has been implemented, so we will allocate
those experienced people to the center as clerical staff, and we will hire new non-permanent staff
under the experienced clerical staff. English proficient secretaries will be hired under principal
investigators to handle clerical services in response to requests from researchers (10 secretaries
by the end of December 2007, and 20 in total by the end of March, 2008).
oMake paper work bilingual: All documents such as forms will be in Japanese and in
English, so that the burden of paperwork on researchers will be reduced. Further, translators
and/or interpreters will be on the staff to support foreign researchers. In addition, English
education will be given to both young researchers and senior Japanese researchers and toclerical staff to improve their English capabilities (operation to make all documents bilingual
will be completed by March 2008).

oAssistance for daily life: We will improve the support system for foreign researchers andtheir families to set themselves up for living in Japan, such as housing search, medical care,education and job search for the spouse to eliminate various barriers that foreigners
encounter when they come to Japan. Full-time staff will be hired (October 2007).

oPatent specialist: For the convenience of foreign researchers to make patent applicationsin Japanese, we will hire English proficient patent specialists.

oProviding sufficient technical staff and facilitating access to equipment: We will
establish a system where researchers can use freely the latest large-scale international
level research equipment owned by NIMS (High Voltage Electron Microscopy, High
Magnetic Field Magnet, Spring-8 dedicated beam line and Nano Foundry) for their research,by provision of sufficient technical staff. Further, we will promote shared use of otheradvanced equipment. We will also provide researchers with sufficient assistance, such as
research assistants, who will undertake routine experimental procedures. For thosetechnical staff and others, we are going to hire about 15 people including researchers retired
from NIMS (total 15; 5 by the end of December 2007, another 5 by March 2008 and 5 by theend of December 2008). In addition, five technical staff will join the center from NIMS.

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ii)
We will provide start-up research funds to researchers invited from external organizations sothat they can launch their own laboratories immediately. We will grant a start-up fund of about
200,000 dollars to principal investigators invited from external organizations who conduct theirresearch at NIMS. Those principal investigators who work in satellite research institutes will beallocated an annual research fund of 100,000 dollars. Young researchers such as post-doctorates
will be allocated a start-up research fund as necessary to an amount of up to 100,000 dollars. On
average, one principal investigator will conduct research with a group of 6 young researchers
including 2 post-doctorates, 2 NIMS researchers and 2 junior researchers (graduate students).

iii)
Securing highly capable young researchers including post-doctorates is vital to the operationof the center in view of human resource development. Fortunately, we have been able to, in the
ICYS project, select about 50 highly capable young researchers from about 25 countries, out of1000 applicants from about 70 countries. By utilizing ICYS’ recruiting know-how accumulated todate, we will secure capable young researchers. Further, we will promote securing graduate
students and provide them with sufficient research guidance.
Securing young researchers including post-doctorates
o International open recruiting: We will conduct international open recruiting throughinternational publications such as “Nature” and by the recommendation from the principals of
more than 130 research institutes which NIMS is affiliated with. Young researchers refer tothose who obtained their Ph.D within the last 10 years. Asian countries such as China, India,
etc. will be promising counties from which to recruit excellent young researchers and students.
In addition, we will make our best effort to employ female young researchers and students.
o Multi-national young researcher group: Through ICYS activities, we have proven that theinternational environment created by young multi-national researchers from different fields,
cultures and races (at ICYS, this kind of international environment is referred to as a “MeltingPot”) is vital to both the research activities and human resource development of young
researchers. Therefore, the center will also establish young multi-national researcher groups
in different fields. We will hire about 60 post-doctorates from more than 20 different nations(total of about 60: 30 by March 2008 and another 30 by March 2009).
Application method and recruitment:
Applicants will propose a three year research plan in the application form. We will conduct
the selection by weighing originality of the research plan and potential of the candidate as a
researcher through two steps; screening of the application documents and interviewing (about
5% is assumed as the ratio of successful applicants). Applicants will be invited to the center for
an interview, and have a one hour interview from which we will decide if the applicant will be
accepted (the recruitment committee will consist of about 6 principal investigators headed by thecenter director as the committee chair). The employment period shall be two years, but renewalof the contract for another year may be granted after appraisal of the results. The reason we limit
the employment period to 3 years at maximum is because we give priority to career
improvement of post-doctorates and alike so that we can promote recruitment to NIMS’ researchstaff.
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Securing the junior researchers (graduate students)
Graduate School of University of Tsukuba: At the Doctoral Program in Materials Science andEngineering, Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, which is jointly
managed by NIMS and University of Tsukuba, we have made extensive efforts towards
internationalization such as the implementation of an entrance examination in English since April
2004, the year we accepted the first students. As a result, the majority of doctorial course students
at present come from abroad. By extending this system, we will secure capable graduate students
from foreign countries such as China and India and make them conduct research as the juniorresearchers. Upon creation of the center, instructors at University of Tsukuba and instructors at theDoctoral Program in Materials Science and Engineering will take charge of the master’s course
program by supplementing each other, and an English curriculum will be prepared in a manner thatallows students to take all the requisite courses in English. Further, we will provide a world-classresearch assistantship to all the graduate students as NIMS junior researchers, so that we canprovide an environment in which students can concentrate on their studies and research withoutworrying about their tuition or the cost of living.
oInternational Joint Graduate School: By expanding the International Joint Graduate
School Program which NIMS already has with Charles University in Czech and Warsaw
University of Technology in Poland, we will allow capable graduate students toparticipate in research under the supervision of principal investigators at the center.

oHuman resource development of young researchers: Fostering capable young
researchers under the world’s top class principal investigators is one of the remarkablefeatures of the center. For that purpose, at the center, we will further expand theactivities at ICYS.

oFostering in the Melting Pot: We will develop an international environment where
capable multi-national youths gather at one center from around the world, and develop
their talents by receiving stimulation there. For that purpose, we will assemble about 60
post-docs of different nationalities from more than 20 countries in one place.

oMentor system: In order to enhance independence of young researchers who obtained
their Ph.D within the last 10 years, top world-class principal investigators will become
their mentors and give advice regarding their research while respecting the researchers’
own initiatives. Through the five year experience in ICYS, this mentor system proved tobe quite effective for young researchers to enhance their independence, widen theirresearch scope and show creativity.

o

Foster human resources by 3D system: A human resource development called 3D
system will be established to enhance independence of young researchers and develop
extensive interdisciplinary knowledge and experience. The 3D system stands for
Double-mentor, Double-discipline and Double-affiliation; meaning: Research guidanceby more than one mentor to enhance independence, having more than one discipline tostrengthen interdisciplinary background knowledge, and multiple affiliations tostrengthen an independent spirit. We will carry out fostering of young researchers by
utilizing satellite institutes as well as with the cooperation of overseas’ cooperatingorganizations because the 3D system cannot be achieved by NIMS alone. We will also
use the 3D system to promote human resource development of the junior researchers(graduate students) who belong to the center.

oCareer development: As a result of the abovementioned human resource development
at the center, we will not only hire young researchers as permanent staff researchers at
NIMS, but we will provide also them an associate professor‘s position or alike inresearch institutes either in Japan or abroad, to further their career development.

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Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
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iv)
As mentioned previously, through the ICYS project NIMS has experienced research work using
English as the official language, and therefore we have already trained clerical staff and haveaccumulated know-how. In using English as the official language, the keys for success lies in the
improvement of the clerical staff’s English proficiency, rather than of researchers’ English
proficiency, and the preparation of paper work materials in English. In Japan, bilingual
documentation and communication in English and Japanese are effective. At the center, about 5
clerical staff members who have experience in ICYS will participate in the plan. To make English
the official language, we will prepare the following items:oLife in NIMS: We will make a booklet “Life in NIMS” (approx. 30 pages) with full
information on procedures for coming to Japan as well as on life in Japan. We will
partially revise a booklet made for ICYS.

oNIMS Research Guide: We will make a booklet about information on NIMS research
activities (approx. 50 pages). We will partially revise a booklet made for ICYS.

oBilingual documentation of various paper works: We will make bilingual
documentation of paper work for business trips, purchase of supplies, salary,
regulations and others (approx. 100 pages). ICYS has already prepared such
documentation, so we will revise those.

oPrincipal investigators meeting: The meeting will be held once a month in English.

oIntranet: The office communication through the Internet in the center will be donebilingually in English and in Japanese.

v)
At the center, we will develop a different salary scale from that of NIMS’s main body, and will
establish a flexible compensation package to secure excellent researchers and to provide themappropriate treatment. We will expand the system, which we have implemented in ICYS, including
an annual salary system.
Annual salary system: Salary system for fixed-term principal investigators invited from externalorganizations or fixed-term young researchers such as post-doctorates will be an annual salarysystem. Because an annual salary system has already been introduced in ICYS, we will make fulluse of the experience. Annual salaries of the fixed-term principal investigators invited from externalorganizations will be in a range of 80,000 to 180,000 dollars, depending on their performance.
Salaries of the fixed-term young researchers such as post-doctorates will be more than ca. 40,000
dollars, and will be assessed by their performance.
Assessment of the salary and renewal of contract: The center director shall evaluate research
performance of young researchers to determine their salary for the next year. Salary shall not bebased on seniority but on research performance, so as to be able to generate differences of morethan about 50% in bonus among researcher of the same age group based on their performance.
Performance evaluation committee: The committee evaluates the research performance ofyoung researchers once each year (the center director chairs the committee, and several principal
investigators are included). They will assess the renewal of contract, salary and research budget for
the next fiscal year.
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The center evaluation committee: We will set up a center evaluation committee which consists ofexternal experts (about 8 people, about 50% of whom are foreigners. An external expert will be
appointed to act as chair) to evaluate the management of the center and research activities. At thesame time, they will conduct performance assessments of the center director and principal
investigators. The NIMS president will determine the annual salary of the center director after
receiving a report from the center evaluation committee. The term of a principal investigator shall be
5 years, with a mid-term assessment in the 3rd year. Moreover, those who have shown excellent
performance at the 5-year assessment will be allowed an extra five year of affiliation. For purposesof rejuvenation, about 1/4 of the principal investigators in total shall be replaced 5 years after theestablishment of the center, to introduce new research fields, and to prevent the center frombecoming inflexible.
However, salaries for researchers who belong to the center and are affiliated to NIMS shall beborne by NIMS, according to the results of the assessment from the center.

vi)Space of the center: For the research activities at the center, NIMS will provide total space ofapproximately 10,000㎡.
Space for experimentation: We will provide office space and laboratory rooms in the Nano
Biomaterial Research Building only for young researchers, including post-doctorates, who conduct
their research independently (about 4,000 ㎡ in total). We will provide approximately 1/2 of that as
experimental space. We will provide necessary and sufficient space to principal investigators
invited from external organizations.
Single-occupied office and cafeteria: We will provide young researchers with a single-occupied
office (approx. 12㎡) where they can devote themselves to research and to have a comfortableliving environment. Also, to realize an ideal Melting Pot environment, we will put all the office rooms
together in one place, and secure enough space for casual talks, including a cafeteria. At thecenter, we will utilize single occupied offices which are currently used by ICYS, and additionally will
prepare approximately 10 rooms to cover shortfalls.
Research equipment: We will secure world’s top-level advanced facilities with high commonality(for example, next-generation ultra high resolution electron microscope), in cooperation with NIMS
in a well-planned manner.

vii)
To show that the center is one of the top world-level centers in the material science field, we willhold an international research conference once a year (a conference with 300 attendants).
Furthermore, we will hold workshops as needed to provide leading world researchers in this fieldwith opportunities to exchange information. Also, every summer we will open a summer school tofoster young researchers.

（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
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viii)The most remarkable feature of the center will be not only that the center sends excellent
leading world research results generated by top world-level principal investigators and subordinate
young researchers, but that the center is a human resource development center where young
researchers will be fostered and improve their careers to become future leaders. It is also a featureof the center that it respects young researchers’ fresh and innovative ideas, as well as those ofprincipal investigators. To realize these features, the proportion of foreigners among young
researchers shall be more than 50%. Our strength lies in the 5-year experience of the ICYS project,which we can improve and extend for further development, for example, research management
using English as its official language and know-how in human resource development for young
researchers.
We have to keep the following points in mind to create an internationally attractive research
environment:•

Use English as the official language: By eliminating the language barrier, we need toestablish a system where foreign researchers can do all their works without the need forunderstanding Japanese.

•

Ensure independent research activities: We will provide young researchers an environment
where they can carry out their research independently. For that purpose, we will appoint
world-leading principal investigators to be their mentors, to encourage young researchers to
become independent. Further, we will provide young researchers with sufficient assistants
such as technical staff so that they can proceed with their research independently, by receiving
help to use common equipment and to get assistant services for work.

•

High salary standard: We will provide higher salaries than in NIMS to motivate young
researchers.

•

Utilization of world-leading equipment in NIMS: We will establish a system where
researchers can use the world’s most advanced leading large-scale equipment such as High
Magnetic Field, Nano Foundry, Spring-8 dedicated beam line, High Voltage Electron
Microscopy, which are available at NIMS.

（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
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(6) Indicators for evaluating a center’s global standingi) Criteria and methods to be used for evaluating the center’s global standing in the subject fieldTo evaluate the center's global standing in the materials science area, we can use indicatorssuch as number of papers accepted by renowned journals, ratio of researchers that are consideredworthy of being named the world’s top level researchers, the number of foreign researchers
employed, the total external grants obtained, the number of cooperative research projects withprivate sector corporations, the number of patents applied and granted, the conditions of patents
exploited, the number of invited talks at major international conferences, and the number ofacademic society awards received. The ranking of the number of citations of papers in the field ofmaterials science presented by ISI can be a strong indicator to evaluate research institutions,although its effectiveness is debatable in the academic community.

ii) Results of current assessment made using said criteria and methods
・

According to the ISI’s ranking of research organizations based on the total number of citationsin the field of materials science over the past 10 years, NIMS, which is the host institution of thecenter, was ranked the 12th in the world as of May 2007, while it was ranked 31st in 2003 when
NIMS first appeared in the ranking. This is a clear indicator of how NIMS has improved its
standing in the last four years. When comparing paper citations over the five years before
becoming an independent administrative institution (1996-2000) and the five years after
becoming an independent administrative institution (2002-2006), NIMS ranked 6th, up from the
31st in the world. This means that the recent organizational reforms after becoming an
independent administrative institution six years ago drastically increased its researchachievements. NIMS publishes about 1,300 papers a year, only one third of which is inmaterials science and the rest of which is in the fields of physics, chemistry or biotechnology.
Nevertheless, NIMS gained a high standing in the materials science discipline.

・The principal investigators from NIMS gained external grants of 1,358 MJPY in FY2006 alone.
In terms of the amount of the external funds gained, the center is equivalent to the world’s top
level.

・The number of the external grants gained by NIMS, which will be the host institution of thecenter, is growing every year. Particularly, the growth of the grants from private sector
corporations is noticeable with a total amount of more than 500 MJPY in FY2006.

・

In the last several years, the number of foreign researchers employed by NIMS has increased
dramatically. Around 200 foreigners join NIMS as post-docs or graduate students every year.
This indicates that NIMS is an open and attractive international institute for foreign
researchers.

iii) Goals to be achieved through the project (at time of interim and final evaluations）
At the point of Mid-term evaluation (5 years later):-

NIMS, the host institution of the center, will rank within top-5 in the materials science fieldaccording to the world’s institute ranking of ISI based on the number of citations in the past five
years.

-

The center will have secured 100 young researchers and 50 graduate students from all over
the world.

-

About 10% of the permanent employees will be foreigners in NIMS.
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At Ex-post evaluation（10 years later）:
・ The center will be a high status research center for materials science, which many researchers
all over the world aspire to join.
・ NIMS will rank within the top-3 in the ISI ranking based on citations in the last five years. Since
the citation ranking is advantageous for large institutions, it is impossible to exceed in numbers
giant institutes such as Chinese Academy of Sciences or Max-Plank Institute, Germany
because of the size difference. Therefore, NIMS set its goal to be in the world’s No.3 (whichcorresponds to No.1 among single institutions).
・ NIMS will be the No.1 institute in the materials science discipline in the institute citation ranking
in Japan.
・ The numbers of total external grants obtained, cooperative research projects, and ofcollaborative research grants by private businesses will be 1.5 times greater than at present.
・ For the ten-year period, the center has secured about 200 young researchers and 100
graduate students from all over the world.
・ This center will function as a research center for growing “Emerging Leaders” in materials
science. Researchers in this center will promote their careers and about 50 of them will getpermanent positions in NIMS, and another 50 at overseas and domestic universities or
research institutes after staying for some time in this center as graduate students or post docs.

・ About 20% of the permanent employees will be foreign researchers in NIMS.

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(7) Securing research fundingi) Past record
The table below shows the actual amount of external funds in recent years obtained by thecandidates for principal investigators who are affiliated to NIMS. The funds listed are researchfunds for which respective researchers are enrolled as principal investigators, and external funds
obtained as public competitive funding offered by the national government, etc. and those whichwere obtained in joint research whose funds are offered by private corporations.
Table: Actual external funds obtained by candidates for principal investigators(Unit：Million yen)
Name
Masakazu Aono
Yoshio Bando
Eiji Muromachi
Kenji Kitamura
Takayoshi Sasaki
Kazuhiro Hono
Katsuhiko Ariga
Yoshio Sakka
Xiao Hu
Naoki Ohashi
Dmitri Golberg
Jinhua Ye

FY2002

FY2003
58
41
0
116
47
90
0
69
2
2
0
50

FY2004
169
493
0
103
77
107
0
28
2
1
0
68

FY2005
179
801
8
119
36
93
0
31
1
15
9
60

FY2006
412
812
7
4
9
51
4
25
0
26
4
12

276
792
10
8
53
116
12
18
2
2
0
22

As shown in the above table, we have been steadily obtaining an average of about 1.4 billion
yen of external funds in recent years. In addition, the funds distributed as operational subsidies of
the host institutions are shown in the table in the next page. In recent years, the total amount ofoperational subsidies allocated and the external funds obtained is remaining at the level from 0.8 to
1.4 billion yen.
The averaged effort (b/a ratio in Appendix II) of the prospective principal investigators is about
80 %. Therefore, the expected amount of the fund that the prospective principal researcher get for
the activity of this center is 1.7-2.2 billion yen every year. This value is nearly equivalent to theamount of requested funding shown in the form of "3. Appropriation Plans".
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Table: Budget of operational subsidies of candidates for principal investigators (Unit：Million yen)Name
FY2002 FY2003 FY2004 FY2005 FY2006
Masakazu Aono
108
133
129
127
40
Yoshio Bando
114
195
171
134
81
Eiji Muromachi
85
75
106
46
48
Kenji Kitamura
255
280
190
312
63
Takayoshi Sasaki
126
127
84
88
64
Kazuhiro Hono
67
54
48
213
95
Katsuhiko Ariga
0
23
20
211
25
Yoshio Sakka
18
17
25
23
47
Xiao Hu
7
14
21
20
19
Naoki Ohashi
10
5
20
20
82
Dmitri Golberg
0
0
0
0
22
Jinhua Ye
9
16
9
9
50
As a reference, the funds of host organizations as a whole obtained from government andprivate sector corporations, etc. are as follows.

ii) Prospects after establishment of the center
In FY 2007, the Nanotechnology Network Project by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology starts, so that we can receive funds for maintenance and operation ofadvanced shared equipment. The shared equipment operated by the fund may be used for thiscenter project, and therefore, the material amount of external funds obtained will be higher than now
estimated.
Furthermore, the number of talented young researchers has increased recently with drastic
increase of research achievements. The funds they obtain will continue to grow in the future.
As stated in the Commitment from the Host Institution attached separately, we assume thefunds needed by those core principal investigators can be sufficiently secured as before, bycontinuing to allocate research funds to principal investigators from the operational subsidies.

（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
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Others
After project funding ends, NIMS will support the center financially so that the center can maintain its
activities at least for 10 more years.
It is quite sure that the main body of NIMS will actively adopt center’s successful management
systems. The concept of the center is really unique and its experience will be very helpful not only forthe main body of NIMS but for other institutions in Japan when they attempt to build their own
research centers.
We would like to stress our valuable experiences obtained from the ICYS project. The center will
succeed and develop the managerial operation in ICYS and this is our great advantage to realize theworld premier research center in addition to our novel materials research technology ofnanoarchitectonics.

（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
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Center Director’s VisionInternational Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA)

Prospective Center Director:
Masakazu Aono
Fellow
Coordinating Director, Key Nanotechnologies Field
Managing Director, NanoSystem Functionality Center
National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)

1 Introduction
1.1
1.2

Materials are the mother of science and technology
21 st century as century of technology and new materials development

2 Goal of research center
2.1
2.2
2.3

New paradigm for materials development and “nanoarchitectonics”
Outstanding feature of NIMS as host organization
Fostering young research leaders

3 Conclusion
As the prospective director requested to setup a research center supported by theWorld Premier International Research Center (WPI) Initiative of MEXT, I will describe
my enthusiasm toward the establishment of this research center and research vision
which is the basis of this enthusiasm.

1

Introduction

1.1

Materials are the mother of science and technology
This title expresses what I have always felt during my 35 years of research. I would liketo explain how I acquired this feeling by describing two of my research projects: the firstproject in which I was engaged in as a researcher and my current ongoing project.
Approximately 35 years ago, electron emission materials with excellent properties
were required for the development of electron microscopes and electron-beamlithography machines. At that time, people knew of the existence of a promising
candidate material, lanthanum hexaboride (LaB 6 ), which has an extremely low work
function (2.3 eV), although the cause of such an extremely low work function was
unclear. I was successful in elucidating the cause (explained later); this success was
only possible because I was working at the National Institute for Research in Inorganic（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
1

Materials (NIRIM), the predecessor of the National Institute for Materials Science(NIMS). At NIRIM, it was possible to grow single crystals of LaB 6 , the melting point of
which is extremely high (2700°C), by the floating zone method 30 years ago. I analyzed
the surface structure (atomic arrangement) of a grown single crystal of LaB 6 utilizing
two new measurement instruments constructed by myself, namely, the angle-resolved
X-ray and UV photoelectron spectrometer and the impact-collision ion scattering
spectrometer. The results revealed that the (001) surface of LaB 6 is covered by La ions,leading to an extremely low work function. On the basis of this discovery, we developed
an electron emission device with a tip made of the (001) surface of a LaB 6 single crystal
with Denka Corporation. This device is now indispensable in various devices using
electron beams, including electron microscopes and electron-beam lithographymachines. Through this series of research, which was my first as a researcher, I
developed the strong impression that a new technology is born from a new material ormaterials.
I would like to introduce another recent example from my ongoing research. I
invented (discovered) an “atomic switch” several years ago. It was indeed aserendipitous discovery. Since I organized/managed the Aono Atomcraft Project of the
Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO) program sponsored by JST in
1989, it has been one of my interests to fabricate nanoelectronic circuits using atomic
chains. I therefore tried to create a conductive path by supplying silver atoms one by
one along a given line on a sample surface with the use of the scanning tunnelingmicroscope (STM). For this purpose, we prepared a STM tip made of silver sulfide(Ag 2 S) that is a typical solid electrolyte so that silver atoms in it are moving freely, andthe tip was scanned on a sample surface, an appropriate voltage being applied. As
expected, silver atoms were supplied to the sample surface from the tip and a
conductive path was formed along the scan line, but we came across a more importantphenomenon. Under a certain applied voltage, silver atoms precipitated at the apex of
the silver sulfide tip and created a bridge between the tip and the sample. Furthermore,when the applied voltage was reversed, the silver atoms redissolved into the silver
sulfide tip, and the bridge disappeared. We had realized a new nanoscale switch. We
decided to call this switch an “atomic switch”. In subsequent research, we found that
this switch has many excellent properties exceeding our predictions. NEC Corporation,with which we are conducting joint research, has begun studies on manufacturing
next-generation programmable logic operation devices that incorporate atomic
switches. Incidentally, the development of recently available new memory devices suchas resistive RAM and redox RAM, was triggered by the development of our atomic
switch. Through the research concerning this atomic switch, I renewed my convictionthat a new technology is created through the development of a new material ormaterials.
I have consumed much space in describing my own research experiences, but as
exemplified by Edison’s light bulb being realized 100 years ago by the use of bamboo
B

B（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
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from Kyoto, by the information technology of the past 50 years being founded on silicon,by the recent blue diode being realized using gallium nitride, and by fertilizer andagricultural chemicals playing a decisive role in the marked increase in food production,
it is a universal fact that new materials bring about new technologies. Although this fact
is not well recognized, it can be the proof that new materials for technology are asimportant as air to us.
1.2 21 st century as century of technology and new materials development
The 20 th century is said to be the century of science. Indeed, there have been threemajor developments in the last century: the discovery of the theory of relativity, theestablishment of quantum mechanics, and the discovery of DNA. These developments
are closely related to our life today in terms of atomic energy, communications
technology, and gene therapy. Remarkable scientific developments are expected tocontinue even in the 21 st century (in particular, much progress is expected in the field ofbrain science); however, I believe that the prediction that the 21 st century will be thecentury of technology will be realized. Technological developments tend to beconsidered less important than scientific developments. However, the situation oftechnology in the 21 st century will be substantially different from that in the 20 th century;
technologies in the 21 st century will be highly advanced so that it will change not only
our life but also our philosophy. As a good example, if mankind can send men to Mars,
our philosophy will be affected and change, and such a change will be brought about bytechnology rather than science.
Technology that brings about numerous benefits and welfare to mankind is also
causing serious problems, as represented by global environmental pollution. Also, therapid and global expansion of industry supported by technology is creating a new crisisof the depletion of natural resources and energy. Thus, the 21 st century is a century inwhich we humans will actually be brought face to face with the limitations of the earth
for the first time; the future of mankind depends on whether we can find a path ofsustainable growth under the severe restrictions related to energy, environment andresources. These serious problems resulting from the progress in technology must be
resolved, not by abandoning technologies but by further advancing the technologies
currently available. Japan, which has a national policy of being a world leader inscience and technology is obligated to address this issue.
However, the demand for new materials in realizing such advanced newtechnologies is at a very high level. The reason behind the use of silicon in solar cells isthat it is a nice semiconductor; however, such a single function will not be sufficient in
the future. Materials with multiple properties, such as those similar to silicon (or thosewith superior functionality compared with silicon) but require less energy for theirproduction, will be needed. Currently, it is considered a matter of course to coolsuperconductors used for superconducting magnetic levitation trains to a ultra-low
temperature. However, room temperature superconductors will be required in the future.
（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
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In the development of nanoelectronics for realizing a ubiquitous information technology
society by reforming communication technologies, the development of devices
operating on the basis of a completely different principle from that of today’s
silicon-based CMOS devices is necessary; the development of materials required forthese devices will be fairly sophisticated and diversified. The development of newmaterials that respond to the high level of demand cannot be realized if we maintain theconventional materials development paradigms adopted thus far. It is necessary toadopt a new materials development paradigm.

2

Goal of Research Center

2.1 New paradigm for materials development and nanoarchitectonics
How can we set a paradigm for new materials development? The marked developmentof nanotechnology and nanoscience during the past 20-odd years has provided us withhalf of the answer. Regardless of the type of product, such as macroscopic structural
materials or microscopic electronic device materials, or the types of inorganic materials,
organic materials, and biomaterials, interesting and diversified functions that had
previously been unavailable have been added to materials through the control of theirstructures at the nanoscale. This has been proven by many examples. Such nanoscale
structural control will be an unshakable pillar in materials development in the newparadigm.
The marked development of nanotechnology has given great confidence toresearchers engaged in materials development, and has built up their hopes ofrealizing dreamy developments in the extension of current nanotechnology. However,doubt as to whether nanotechnology has made the expected progresses has recently
been cast. This reflects the recent recognition of materials researchers that somebreakthrough is necessary for nanotechnology to break out of the shell of nanoscience
to become a truly practical technology. That is, some essential element is missing.
Nanoscience and nanotechnology have been developed as a science or
technology in local nanoscale space locally. Demonstrations that have surprisedmaterial scientists have been presented one after another; however, these concerned
only a small number of atoms or molecules in limited spaces at the nanoscale. For
example, demonstrations of materials creation and fabrication, such as arranging
atoms or molecules in a desired manner by manipulating them individually, rearranging
atoms and molecules locally under an equilibrium condition into a different
arrangement, and fabricating conducting polymer chains at an arbitrary location by
inducing chain polymerization reactions via the stimulation of a single molecule, forexample, were performed for a limited number of atoms and molecules located in alimited space. Also, demonstrations of the extraordinary high conductivity of carbon
nanotubes, the operating characteristics of various single-electron transistors (SET),and the functions of single-molecule transistors, for example, have also been realized（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
4

for a single molecule or structure. However, for practical applications, the scaling up or
improvement of the creation and fabrication methods and the organic integration andmutual linking of individual functional molecules and structures are required. This isessential to create novel functionality of practical use as a whole. As an analogy,
although individual cells in biological bodies have excellent functions, a more important
fact is that these cells are organized and exhibit a function as a whole.
In short, a new technology system, in which we can arrange individual
nanostructures that have useful functions into a desired arrangement, is required.
We call this technological system “nanoarchitectonics * ”, and explore it at this research
center.
Nanoarchitectonics can be classified into two major areas: “NanoMaterials
Creation” and “NanoSystems Organization” (refer to Fig. 1). As a simple example of
NanoMaterial Creation, the creation of a new material that cannot exist in nature has
already been accomplished by compositing a material with single nanosheets obtainedby chemical exfoliation from a different layered material. It will be possible to create
new interesting materials with new functions by advancing a similar method. A simple
example of NanoSystems Organization is the construction of a nanoelectronics circuit.
Interesting electronics devices made of carbon nanotubes and functional molecules
have been experimentally fabricated as single devices; however, they cannot be put topractical use unless these devices are integrated and mutually linked into one system.
At this research center, we will realize nanoarchitectonics through thedevelopment of new various technologies in four areas: 1) Atom/Molecule Novel
Manipulation, 2) Chemical NanoManipulation, 3) Field-induced Material Control, and 4)“Artificial” Self-organization (“artificial” means “controlled” or “guided”). Their contents
are shown in Fig. 2 using examples (all of these examples are selected from the world’s
first research of their kind performed at NIMS).
In Atom/Molecule Novel Manipulation, the basic approach is the control of thearrangement and bonding state of individual atoms and molecules using the proximity* NoteThe word “nanoarchitectonics” in this context was used for the first time in the world at
the First International Symposium on Nanoarchitectonics Using Suprainteractions(NASI-1) for which I served as chairman. The second symposium, NASI-2, was heldin Los Angeles and chaired by Prof. Jim Gimzewski of UCLA (one of the principal
investigators of this research center), and the third symposium NASI-3 is scheduled tobe held in Cambridge and will be chaired by Prof. Mark Welland of Cambridge
University (also one of the chief researchers of this research center).
“Suprainteraction” in the symposium name is also a coined term by us meaning
long-range interaction.
This is also another important concept in this research
project.
（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
5

probe (tip) of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) or an atomic force microscope(AFM). This method is unique in the sense that individual atoms and molecules can be
manipulated, and cannot be replaced with any other method; however, it isdisadvantageous because much time is required to manipulate a large number ofatoms and molecules. Our approach is to aggressively overcome this disadvantage andadvantage of the excellent property of this method rather than abandoning it. The
disadvantage can be overcome by superparallel driving of multiple probes by computer

Fig. 1 New paradigm in materials development through material “nanoarchitectonics

control and controlling self-organization of atoms and molecules on a resulting
template. In Chemical NanoManipulation, nanoscale materials and structures can beconstructed by skillfully and differentially using the chemical equilibrium andinequilibrium states in a liquid or solid phase in time and space. Nanomaterials andvarious nanostructures can be constructed more efficiently than by the atom/molecule
novel manipulation method. In Field-induced Material Control, we exploit the statechange of materials under the presence of electric field, magnetic field,
electromagnetic field (light and X-ray), strain field, electron flux and ion flux. Although
this method has previously been employed even until now, we will aggressively develop（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
6

new untried approaches at this research center. For example, it has been clarified in a
recent study that after molecules, which have been adsorbed onto a substrate, arearranged in a desired pattern using a scanning probe, their positions can be fixed byirradiating X-rays that have a wavelength specific to the molecule of concern.
Furthermore, the possibility of controlling the crystal orientation of nonmagnetic
nanoparticles using a magnetic field has been demonstrated. In “Artificial”
Self-organization, we will adopt the conventional self-organization method of mutualinteraction that molecules (or atoms) possess, but add “artificial” modifications. There
are two types of modifications. One is the control of self-organization using external
fields (including the application of a local field and the use of a template), and the otheris the modification of structures formed by self-organization with the use of subsequent
skillful fabrication methods. As demonstrated by some of the examples describedabove, it is important to fuse the various technologies of the four areas.

Fig. 2 Illustration of materials “nanoarchitectonics”
We will explore new paradigms for materials research on the basis ofnanoarchitectonics, which is based on the above-described technological development,（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
7

and create innovative materials that will enable the development of the newtechnologies required for sustainable growth in the 21 st century.
2.2 Outstanding feature of NIMS as host organization
It is important not only to develop but also to combine individual technologies in orderto achieve concrete results in the development of new materials through the integrated
development of the above-described new technologies in nanoarchitectonics.
Therefore, the organization responsible for such a task must be one that is exclusively
dedicated to materials research and that has talented personel, experience, andfacilities that exceed a certain level. In this sense, NIMS is a highly suitableorganization as the host institute of the research center. In fact, NIMS boasts numerous
outstanding achievements such as (1) the first successful fabrication of diamond thinfilms by chemical vapor deposition, (2) the ultrahigh-pressure synthesis ofsingle-crystal diamond, (3) the discovery and structural identification of bismuth oxide
high-temperature superconductors, (4) the growth of single-crystal dielectrics of theworld’s largest size and highest quality, (5) the basic research and practical use of an
excellent electron emission material of single-crystal lanthanum hexaboride(mentioned previously), (6) the development of various super-heat-resistant alloys, thedevelopment of “super steel”, which is unparalleled by any other in the world, and (7)the development and practical use of coiled wire fabrication technology ofhigh-temperature superconducting materials. Here, this tradition is being continued
with recent eminent results, such as (8) the discovery of the cobalt oxide
superconductor, (9) the development of superhigh-speed plastic ceramic, and (10) the
production of the superconducting diamond. In the area of materials development in
the nanoscale region, NIMS has a distinguished track record, including (11) experiencein the construction of various nanostructures by means of manipulating atoms andmolecules since the inauguration of the Aono Atomcraft Project under the ERATO
program organized 18 years ago (discussed previously), (12) the discovery andapplication of atomic switches resulting from atomic and molecular manipulation(discussed previously), (13) the formation of conductive polymer chains at desired
locations by chain polymerization, (14) the development of memory with bit density
greater than 100 Tb/in 2 by using C 60 molecules, (15) the development of a
nanothermometer using carbon nanotubes, (16) the discovery and use of metal oxide
nanosheets with useful functions, and (17) the realization of semiconductor quantum
dots, of which even the internal structure is controlled, by droplet epitaxy. Also, in thearea of nanoscale measurement technologies, achievements include (18) the
development and use of multiprobe STM (nanotesters) with 2, 3, and 4 multitips, (19)the development and use of a new technology for analyzing the nanostructure andelectron state, as well as the spin state, of light emitted from an STM by spectroscopy
and polarization analysis, and (20) the development and use of STM operated at
ultralow temperatures, in strong magnetic field, and in ultrahigh-vacuum. In addition to（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
8

the above, NIMS operates many large-scale facilities, such as (21) the world’s
strongest magnetic field generator, (22) the world’s highest-frequency nuclear
magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer using the strong magnetic field generator,(23) an ultrahigh-pressure generator that can be used even for the fabrication of
artificial diamond, (24) an exclusive beamline at the synchrotron radiation facility(SPring-8), and (25) a high-current metal ion beam generator.
It is necessary to promote research at the research center by recruiting talented
researchers from all over the world by opening our door to the world (openenvironment; this is one of the major goals of the World Premier International ResearchCenter (WPI) initiative of MEXT). To this end, experience in internationalization, suchas the use of English as the official language, is required. NIMS has an ample trackrecord in this area. Through the five-year management experience since theinauguration of the International Center for Young Scientists (ICYS), we haveaccumulated a great variety of experience related to international matters by using
English as the official language (in both research activity and administrative work), by
organizing multinational groups of young researchers, and by appointing internationallyprominent researcher advisers. Moreover, NIMS holds a student summer school every
year in cooperation with Cambridge University and the University of California, withspecial emphasis on international exchange among young researchers.
NIMS with its excellent environment in both research and management, is no
doubt the appropriate organization to handle the formation of a research center for the
WPI initiative.
2.3 Fostering young research leaders
Cognizant that the mission of the WPI initiative is the establishment of a world-classresearch center, I would like to emphasize the importance of fostering young
researchers, particularly young research leaders, at this type of research center. It may
not be necessary to mention that in many cases, research is advanced by theoriginality of young researchers. When the current status of science and technology inJapan is viewed from this perspective, the fostering of young researchers (which
include students, postdoctoral fellows and young research leaders) is not necessarilysystematized. In many universities, students are not taught how to write scientificpapers in English. Postdoctoral fellows, in many cases, carry out subcontract-typeresearch for their superiors. Young research leaders, such as research associates inuniversities and group leaders in research organizations, are busy with menial chores.
Another recent phenomenon is that young researchers in Japan have no desire to goout of Japan to acquire international experience. It is timely that the WPI initiative
promotes the formation of an environment in which postdoctoral fellows and seniorresearchers can devote themselves to research and internationalization. If this is thegoal of the WPI initiative, I believe that an additional step should be taken including thefostering of young researchers (successors, from a person of my age) as another goal
（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
9

of this project. I think this is extremely important for the development of Japan’sscience and technology. NIMS has been putting special emphasis on fostering young
researchers and on internationalization. The operation of the International Center for
Young Scientists (ICYS), the holding of student summer schools in cooperation with
Cambridge University and the University of California (I am in charge of the summer
school with Cambridge University and will visit the university with approximately 20
students this summer), and the holding of closed mini seminars with Novel laureates(Dr. H. Rohrer and Prof. H. Kroto) are some typical examples of our activities.
From the viewpoint of fostering young researchers, at this research center, we will
not only carry out the world’s top-level research but also enrich student education byincorporating the Graduate School of Material Science of the University of Tsukuba,
which is operated by NIMS, as well as plan to adopt a mentor system in which principal
investigators nurture young research leaders. Furthermore, we hope that young
researchers will learn cooperation with industry to realize the practical applications of
their research accomplishments. To this end, we plan to use our Platform, that is,cooperative research operated by NIMS in association with companies and the Evening
Seminars (held every week) that are open to researchers from industry.

3

Conclusion

Finally, Japan, which has a national policy of being a world leader in science andtechnology, is obligated to address the serious issue that technology, which on the one
hand, provides us with benefits and welfare, but on the other hand, also causes
global-scale environmental destruction. Japan should lead in exploring a path towards
sustainable growth. To this end, the development of various new technologies related
to environment, energy, resources, information and communication (in reality, morethan half of the energy used by advanced countries is for information andcommunications), and medical treatment is necessary, and the development ofinnovative materials required in such technologies is of extreme importance. To
respond to such needs, we will establish a new paradigm for materials development on
the basis of nanoarchitectonics, develop innovative materials and offer them to theworld.
To accomplish the above, we will form this research center by inviting excellent
researchers from the world over under NIMS as the host organization. The participationof principal investigators from UCLA, Cambridge University, Georgia Institute ofTechnology, CNRS in France, Tsukuba University and Tokyo University of Science has
been confirmed.
Finally, I am sincerely grateful to Dr. Heinrich Rohrer, who was awarded the Nobel
Prize for Physics in 1986 for his contribution to the invention of the scanning tunnelingmicroscope (STM), and whom I highly respect, for offering to write a recommendation
for me as the prospective center director.
（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
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Host Institution’s Commitment
Date
To MEXTName of host institution
National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Name and title of head of host institution
Teruo Kishi, President
Signature
I confirm that the measures listed below will be taken faithfully if “International Center for Materials
Nanoarchitectonics” is adopted under the World Premier International Research Center (WPI) Initiative.
＜Provision in host institution’s mid-to-long-term plan＞
Looking from NIMS’s point of view, the center is designed as an organization undertaking the two following
roles, classified roughly: (1) an advanced research organization to conduct basic research for materials,
fusing fields of materials science, chemistry and physics; (2) an organization to foster researchers who will
create the future of material research in an international and interdisciplinary atmosphere. The objective
related to (1) is the “development of innovative materials to realize a sustainable society”, and this isperfectly consistent with the 2nd midterm objectives and midterm plan of NIMS. Accordingly, the centercan be positioned as an organization which will play a principle role to lead the main body of NIMS bycarrying out the research in a radically accelerated manner. On the other hand, to put (2), the fostering ofresearchers, as the other pillar of the concept is a very important point of the center, from the standpoint of
NIMS. We have decided that, if this proposal is realized, NIMS’s new staff researchers with tenure will bechosen, in principle, from young researchers of the center. Thus, the center is also positioned as a place
to foster NIMS’s future research staff with tenure. Therefore, the center is definitely incorporated into
long-term strategies of the main body of NIMS in both aspects of research initiatives and supply of humanresources.

（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics）
1

＜Concrete Measures＞(1)
NIMS will support the center in the following manner.
i)Labor costs of permanent staff (such as researchers with tenure and clerical staff) andnon-permanent staff that join the center from NIMS will be allocated from operational
subsidies and other funds of NIMS except for those who are fully enrolled in the center.

ii)

As for projects with operational subsidies that are handled by researchers who join the centerfrom NIMS as senior researchers, we will allocate an equivalent amount of the research funds
to the center to implement the project at the center. Among competitive grants obtained byresearchers who joined from NIMS, we will allocate an amount equivalent to the direct costs tothe center, if the research plan is consistent with that of the center.

iii) We will secure sufficient space mainly at the Nano/Biomaterial Research Building in the
Namiki District.
Other than the above, we will give additional assistance for budgeting and space as the need arises.

(2)
The center director is given authority for the center’s general operation by the president of NIMS. In
other words, the center director has the authority to employ, renew contracts, make payroll
decisions, determine research expenses, and allocate space for researchers who are invited to thecenter, except for NIMS permanent staff. His authority also includes employment and renewal ofcontracts of administrative staff members, except for NIMS permanent staff. If the center director
makes the request and the NIMS president confirms its necessity, NIMS personnel are allowed tomove to the center. If these are required to be secured, we will make the necessary rule in
NIMS’s internal regulations.

(3)
NIMS personnel are allowed to move to the center if the center director requests it and he/she
accepts the request and the NIMS president confirms its necessity. As stated above, the center
will play a role to supply young staff researchers with tenure to the main body of NIMS.
Conversely, it does not basically produce any problem that necessary human resources aresupplied from the main body of NIMS to the center. We believe such mobility of human resource
between the center and the main body of NIMS may stimulate both organizations.

(4)
We have already experienced in pioneering operations of English use as the official language,clerical work support system in English, creation of bilingual clerical documents, annual salarysystem, researcher’s performance evaluation, salary assessment, renewal of contracts, etc. at theInternational Center for Young Scientists (ICYS). There is no problem in adopting such a flexible
and distinctive management style which can be seen as an extension of the above operations
experienced. We are planning to actively adopt the center’s successful management systems to
the main body of NIMS.
(5)
For the research activities at the center, we will provide a space, approximately 10,000㎡ for study,
mainly at the Nano/Biomaterial Research Building in the Namiki District. The space will be used tosecure the following:
Space for experimentation:
We will provide laboratory space at the Nano Biomaterial Research Building for young
researchers such as post-doctoral fellows who will proceed with their research
independently (about 4,000 ㎡ in total). We will provide approximately 1/2 span (20 ㎡)
as their experimental space. We will provide necessary and sufficient space to principal
investigators invited from external organizations.
Single-occupied office and cafeteria:
We will provide young researchers with a single-occupied office (approx. 12㎡) where they
can devote themselves to research and to live in a comfortable environment. Also, to（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics））
2

realize an ideal Melting Pot environment, we will put all the living rooms together in one
place, and secure enough space for casual talks, including a cafeteria. At the center, we
will utilize single-occupied offices which are currently used by ICYS.
We will allow researchers at the center to freely use research equipment and facilities such as Nano
Foundry that NIMS possesses, and will make an effort to accommodate their needs for the use as apriority. Furthermore, we will secure world’s top-level advanced facilities with high commonality, incooperation with the center in a well-planned manner.

(6)
We assume that the center project is extremely effective in activating the whole of NIMS, so we arewilling to make efforts for the smooth implementation to the fullest. NIMS is expecting that the center
will play a principle role in leading the main body of NIMS. However, this does not mean that NIMS
intends to exploit the center to solve NIMS’s specific issues such as the aging researcher population.
Such problems should be, of course, solved through NIMS’s own efforts. Actually, NIMS is expecting
the center to play just two roles, i) leading of the main body of NIMS by carrying out research in aradically accelerated manner and ii) fostering of NIMS’s future research leaders with establishmentof NIMS’s tenure-track system.

（Host institution： National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Center Project International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics））
3

List of Principal Investigators

Name

①

Current affiliation(organization, department) andspecialties

Director-General, International Center for
AONO, Masakazu Materials Nanoarchitectonics
Specialty on NanoSciene and Nanotechnology

Academic degree

PhD. Tokyo Univ (1972)

Deputy Director-General, International Center
for Materials Nanoarchitectonics
International Center for Young Scientists,
National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS),and
Ph.D. Osaka University, 1975
Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences,
University of Tsukuba
Specialty on Nanomaterials and Transmission
electron microscope②

BANDO, Yoshio③

Deputy Director-General, International Center
for Materials Nanoarchitectonics
National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Ph.D. Tokyo Institute of
MUROMACHI, Eiji
Advanced Nano Materials Laboratory,
Technology, 1983
Specialty on Solid-State Chemistry andSoftchemistry
Deputy Director-General, International Center
for Materials Nanoarchitectonics
Nano Ceramics Center, National Institute forMaterials Science (NIMS), and Graduate School Dr. Eng. Kyushu University,of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of
1983
TsukubaSpecialty on nanopowder technology andceramics④

SAKKA, Yoshio⑤

Optronic Material Center, National Institute forMaterials Science (NIMS), and Interdisciplinary
Ph.D. Tohoku University
KITAMURA, Kenji Graduate School of Eng. Sci. Kyushu University
1983
Specialty on crystal growth, nonlinear opticalmaterials, ferroelectric materials

⑥

⑦

⑧

Hono, Kazuhiro

Magnetic Materials Center, National Institutefor Materials Science (NIMS), andGraduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Ph.D. The Pennsylvania State
University of Tsukuba
University, 1988
Specialty on Magnetic nanomaterial, Atom
probe

Supermolecules Group, Advanced Nano
Materials Laboratory and Organic Nanomaterial
Center, National Institute for Materials Science Dr. (Eng.): Tokyo Institute of
ARIGA, Katsuhiko(NIMS)
Technology, 1990
Specialty on Supramolecular Chemistry andSurface Science
Optronic Materials Center, National Institute forMaterials Science and Faculty of Science and
Ph.D. Tokyo Institute ofTechnology, Tokyo University of Science,
OHASHI, Naoki
Technology, Japan (1992)
major: Optoelectronics of oxide and nitride
semiconductors

HU, Xiao

Computational Materials Science Center,
National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS),
Ph.D. (Physics), University
and Graduate School of Pure and Appliedof Tokyo, 1990
Sciences, University of Tsukuba
Specialty on condensed-matter-physics⑩

FUJITA, Daisuke

Advanced Nano Characterization Center,
National Institute for Materials Science,Specialty:Advanced nanomaterials
characterization

Ph.D. The University ofTokyo,1991⑪

YE, Jinhua

Photocatalytic Materials Center, National
Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Specialty on Photocatalyst, Eco-Materials

Ph.D. The University ofTokyo, 1990⑫

HASEGAWA,
Tsuyoshi

NanoSystem Functionality Center, National
Institute for Mateirals Science (NIMS),
Nano-devices

Ph.D. (science) The Tokyo
Inst. Tech., 1996⑬

SASAKI,
Takayoshi

Nanoscale Materials Center, National Institutefor Materials Science (NIMS), andDoctor of Science (The
Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences,
University of Tokyo)
University of Tsukuba ,Specialty on nanosheet and softchemistry⑭

Nanoscale Materials Center, National Institutefor Materials Science(NIMS), and Graduate
GOLBERG, Dmitri School of Pure and Applied Sciences,
University of Tsukuba
Specialty on nanotubes and nanowires⑮

TAKAYANAGI,
HIdeaki⑨

Tokyo University of Science, Department ofApplied Physics
Major: mesoscopic superconductivity andquantum information physics

Ph.D. Moscow Institute for
Ferrous Metallurgy, 1990

Ph.D. (science) The
University of Tokyo, 1987

⑯⑰

Institute of Materials Science, Graduate Schoolof Pure and Applied Sciences, University of
KADOWAKI, Kazuo Tsukuba :Ph.D. Osaka University, 1980
Specialty on Superconductivity andNanoelectronics
Department of Materials Science and Master’s
Master's School of Medical Sciences,
Ph.D. Tokyo University of
NAGASAKI, Yukio University of Tsukuba
Science (1986)
Specialty on Biomaterials and Polymer
Chemistry
GIMZEWSKI,
James K.

Dinstinguished Professor, Chemistry &Biochem. Dept., Univ. of California, Los Angeles
Director, Nano/Pico Characterization Lab,
Ph.D., Physical Chemistry
UCLA California NanoSystems Inst.,
Specialty on Nanoscience and Nanobio⑲

JOACHIM
Christian*Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique(CNRS)
Lab: CEMES (UPR8011) Toulouse (France)
Specialty on Computer science andNanoscience⑳

WELLAND, Mark E.

PhD (Physics)
University of Cambridge
Specialty on Nanoscience and nanofabrication University of Bristol 1984

21

School of Materials Science and Engineering,
Ph.D. Arizona State
WANG, Zhong Lin Georgia Institute of Technology,
University, 1987
Specialty on Nano Chemistry and Nanodevices⑱

PhD in Applied Mathematic
PhD in Quantum Physics

Dept of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,PhD（University of Illinoise,
USA
1990）
Specialty on Nanostructure of organic materials

22

YAGHI, Omar

23

Scientific Communication of the National
Center of Competence for Nanoscale Scienceat the Institute of Physics, University of Basel,
Gerber, Christoph
PhD
Switzerland
Specialty Nanoscience and Nanoengineering
using AFM