International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research（I2CNER）

International Institute for Carbon–Neutral Energy Research (I²CNER)
Kyushu University▶http://i2cner.kyushu-u.ac.jp― World Premier International Research Center Initiative（WPI）―

The World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) was launched in 2007 by the Ministry ofEducation, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in a drive to build within Japan“globally visible”
research centers that boast a very high research standard and an outstanding research environment which is
sufficiently attractive to prompt frontline researchers from around the world to want to work in them.

■Critical Mass of Outstanding Researchers
・Bringing together top-level researchers within a host research institution
・Inviting top-notch researchers from around the world■Attractive Research and Living Environment of
Top International Standards
・Strong leadership by center director
・English as the primary language
・Rigorous system for evaluating research and system of
merit-based compensation
・Strong support function
・Facilities and equipment appropriate to a top world-levelresearch center
・Housing and support for daily living and education of
dependent children
To assist the WPI research centers in carrying out this mandate,the Japanese government provides them with long-term, large-scale financial support.

―International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research（I²CNER）―
I2CNER’s mission is to contribute to the creation of a sustainable and environmentallyfriendly society by conducting fundamental research for the advancement of low carbon
emission and cost effective energy systems, and improvement of energy efficiency. The arrayof technologies that I2CNER’s research aims to enable includes Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Polymer
Membrane based fuel cells, biomimetic and other novel catalyst concepts, and production,storage, and utilization of hydrogen as a fuel. Our research also explores the underlying
science of CO2 capture and storage technology or the conversion of CO2 to a useful product.
Additionally, it is our mission to establish an international academic environment that fosters
innovation through collaboration and interdisciplinary research (fusion).

Director Petros Sofronis

In particular, the Institute’s research agenda aims at understanding and advancing the science of hydrogenproduction and storage using artificial photosynthesis; materials that are structurally tolerant to hydrogen;electrochemical devices; catalysis; CO₂ concentrationand separation; geological CO₂ storage; and energy
analysis. These challenges require a paradigm shift in
our approach to research that not only bridges multiple
spatial (from Angstrom to kilometers) and temporal (fromnanoseconds to decades) scales, but which also brings
together scientists and engineers from disparate disciplines
such as chemistry, materials, geoscience, and engineering
to work cooperatively and synergistically. The Institute’s
integrative approach focuses on multi- and inter-disciplinary
strategies for discovering, controlling, and manipulating theinteractions between materials, fluids, and interfaces withgases such as hydrogen, oxygen, and CO₂.

Energy Vision for Japan
Parameter Space of Technology Options

15International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research（I2CNER）■Organization
The Institute was established as an organizationthat reports directly to the President of Kyushu
University. The Institute is a unique collaborative
project between Kyushu University and theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, withthe main facility located on the Ito campus inJapan, and a Satellite Institute located on theUrbana-Champaign campus in Illinois. Kyushu
University provides the Institute with the bestequipped laboratories for hydrogen researchin the world, which is a truly attractive featurethat encourages the international community
to converge to the Ito Campus for scientificinteraction and discussion. To carry out its
mission, the Institute has established collaborations with internationally recognized research centers, universities, andnational laboratories. These collaborations involve research interactions and exchange of researchers between theinstitutions.

■The I²CNER Buildings
I 2CNER Building 1 was completed inDecember 2012 (the lefthand side houses
the Next-Generation Fuel Cell ResearchCenter, Kyushu University) and I2CNER
Building 2 was completed in February
2015. At I2CNER, internationally-acclaimed
researchers are working together“underone roof”in pursuit of interdisciplinary
research.

I2CNER Buildings (Left: Building 2, Right: Building 1)

I2CNER Annual Symposium (February 2016)16