Volume 1

WPI-AIMR NEWS
December 24, 2007

World Premier International Research Center
Advanced Institute for Materials Research
Tohoku University

2

Contents
Preface ………………………………………………………………………………….

2

WPI-AIMR Launch
Overview…………………………………………………………………………..
3
Organization
WPI-AIMR Organization chart …………………………………………………...... 8International Advisory Board ……………………………………………………….. 8
Personnel
Administration profile……………………………………………………………….. 9
Principal Investigators profile……………………………………………………….. 12
Inauguration Ceremony of November 15 and 16, 2007
Program …………………………………………………………………………...... 41
1. Opening Remarks: Yoshinori YAMAMOTO (Director of WPIAdvanced Institute for Materials Research)…………………………………….. 42
2. Presidential Remarks: Akihisa INOUE (President of Tohoku University)……… 43
3. Congratulatory Remarks: Hiroshi IKUKAWA (Director of Strategic
Programs Division, MEXT) …………………………………………………… 46
4. Congratulatory Remarks: Motoyuki ONO (President of Japan Society
for Promotion of Sciences) …………………………………………………...... 48
5. Congratulatory Remarks: Hiroyuki ABE (Former President of Tohoku
University, Advisor of Japan Science and Technology Agency)……………….. 50
6. WPI and Luck and Chances: Heinrich ROHRER (WPI-AIMR International
Advisory Board Chair, 1986 Physics Nobel Laureate) ………………………… 51
Research Prospect
1. Mingwei CHEN: Short History and Perspective of Bulk Metallic Glasses
54
2. Paul S. WEISS: Atomically Precise Assemblies, Tools and Analyses …………. 64
3. Toshio NISHI: Polymer Science ……………………………………………….. 70
Job Recruitment

Staff/post-doctoral fellowship ……………………………………………………… 88
Ph. D. student scholarship …………………………………………………………. 90
Workshop Guideline/Announcement
International workshop guidelines…………………………………………………. 91
AppendixInauguration Ceremony snapshots ………………………………………………. x-1

1Preface
Inauguration of the WPI -Advanced Institute for Materials Research(WPI-AIMR)
Yoshinori YAMAMOTO
The WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, WPI-AIMR in short, has beenlaunched on October 1, 2007. Today (November 15, 2007) we observe the successful
inauguration of this new institute, as a fruit of the tremendous efforts, support, and leadershipof Professor Akihisa Inoue, President of Tohoku University together with the President Office,as well as of the outstanding scientific achievements of all the WPI principal investigators andresearchers. I thank all of those who have made their contributions to the establishment of
WPI-AIMR for their great efforts and ceaseless support. The mission of WPI-AIMR is,
through in-depth understanding and control at atomic and molecular level, to promote thedevelopment of new materials and substances, to invent innovative processes and devices, toconstruct new systems using those devices and materials, and ultimately, to benefit the society
and mankind. It can be expected to organize a “dream team” for the materials researchthrough the cooperation and unification of the existing institutes in a wide variety of
disciplines including physics, chemistry, material science and engineering at Tohoku
University, whose activities are already at world-top level, together with collaborations withworld top-class researchers from other domestic and international institutes. I believe that,through this WPI-AIMR, we will be able to create entirely new materials and substances with
innovative functions, contributing to welfare of mankind.
It is a great pleasure for me to publish the first volume of WPI-AIMR News before theend of year 2007. This volume contains a collection of the speeches by the President of
Tohoku University and the distinguished guests at the WPI Inaugural Ceremony on November
15th, 2007, and the presentations of some of principal investigators in the technical sessions.
We plan to publish this periodical quarterly.
In order to achieve the primal goal of WPI-AIMR, I would like once again to ask yourcontinuous support, cooperation and advice for great success.

2researches on material development, device, system, theory, characterization, and process
technology should lead to creative development of innovative materials, which contribute verymuch to welfare of the mankind. For example, super small high-performance pressure sensor,
micro geared motor, high strength plane alloy, advanced material equipment for micro surgery,
diaphragm for pressure sensor, industry/family use robot, light materials for eco-model emission,
micro-lathe, universal memory, superconductive electronic wire, an innovative display,nano-patterned metallic glass with hard magnetism, and ultra high-density perpendicular magnetic
recording media are expected as outcomes from WPI-AIMR. This is just one example, and many
important outcomes will evolve in the next 10 years under this program.
Successful implementation of “International Research Center” concept must be accompaniedwith well-coordinated overseas network. Tohoku University had a fortune to have had intensive
global academic exchanges through its “research-first” policy. Figure 6 shows some of the Tohoku
University’s partners. The partners in North America are UC system, Harvard, MIT, Stanford, IBM,
Penn State, University of Wisconsin. In addition, we have the US office of Tohoku University in
California. In Europe, Cambridge, Oxford, Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Lyon, ETH,
are among our active partners. In Asia/Oceania, Seoul National, Tsinghua, KAIST, Sydney and others
are our partners. We also have the China Office of Tohoku University in Beijing.
In the beginning of 2009, the total number of researchers and staff of WPI-AIMR will beapproximately 200. Through the global networking and active cooperation the WPI-AIMR researchergroups encompass many regions of the world in the next 10 years.

Overseas Network
Overseas Footholds of Tohoku
University around the World• University of Cambridge• Royal Institute ofTechnology in S tockh olm• University of Lyon
• Russian Academy of Sciences• University of Oxford• University of Heidelber g• Moscow State University• ETH• IBM Zurich• Tohoku Unive rsity China Office(Beijing)• Indian Institute of S cience• Seoul National University• Korea Advanc ed Institute of
Science and Tec hnology• Chinese Acade my of Sciences• Tsinghua University• University of Ne w S outh Wales• University of Sydney

Tohoku University WPI
Total number about 200 (2007)

North
America
Europe

Toh
To
h oku
University
WPI

Asia
䊶

Oceania

through global cooperation

Fig. 6.
7• Tohok u University US Office(Califor nia)
• University of California (SB)
• MIT
• Harvard University• Stanford University• Columbia University• University of Illinois• University of Wisconsin• University of Iowa
• Argonne Natl. Lab.
• IBM Watson and Almade n• Johns Hopkins University• Penn State Universit y

WPI researcher groups
encompass many regions of theworld (by 2017)

Curriculum Vitae of University President

Akihisa INOUEPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
President and University-Professor
Principal Investigator
Tohoku University
2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku
Sendai, 980-8577 Japan
E-mail㧦akihisa@president.tohoku.ac.jp
URL㧦http://www.inoue.imr.tohoku.ac.jp/
ACADEMIC:
1970 B.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Himeji Institute of Technology, Himeji, Japan
1972 M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
1975 Dr. Materials Science and Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Materials Science and Engineering, 1975
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1976-1985
Research Associate, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University
1985-1990
Associate Professor, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University
1990-2006
Professor, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University
2000-2006
Director, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University
2002-2006
Deputy President, Tohoku University
2006-presentPresident, Tohoku University
CURRENTRESEARCH:
The study of advanced nonequilibrium metallic materials with amorphous/glassy,
quasicrystalline or nanocrystalline phase etc. exhibiting useful physical and chemical properties
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬The Acta Metallurgica et Materialia Best Paper Award for 1992 (1994)
‫ܕ‬Citation Laureate Award (2000)‫ܕ‬Japan Academy Prize (2002)
‫ܕ‬The Kelly Lecture - Cambridge University (2003)
‫ܕ‬The Swedish royal college of engineering honorary doctorate degree award (2005)
‫ܕ‬Membership of the Japan Academy (2006)‫ܕ‬The Prime Minister Prize (2006)

9

Curriculum Vitae of Administrative Director

Toshio SAKURAI
PRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Kotaro Honda Professor
Institute for Materials Research (IMR)
Advisor to the President
Tohoku University
2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku
Sendai, 980-8577 Japan
E-mail㧦sakurai@imr.tohoku.ac.jp
URL㧦http://apfim.imr.tohoku.ac.jp/
ACADEMIC:
1967 B. S. Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo
1979 M. S. Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo
1974 Ph. D. in Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, PA, USA
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Ph. D. in Physics, 1974
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1974-1977
Limited-Term MTS (Member of Technical Staff) AT&T Bell Telephone
Laboratories, Murray Hill, N. J. USA
1977-1981
Assistant Professor/Associate Professor, Department of Physics, The
Pennsylvania State University, PA, USA
1981-1989
Associate Professor, Institute of Solid State Physics (ISSP), The University ofTokyo
1989-present Professor, Institute for Materials Research (IMR), Tohoku University
2006-present Advisor to the President, Tohoku University
2007-present Head of International Frontier Center for Advanced Materials (IFCAM)
CURRENTRESEARCH:
Atomistic investigation of surfaces and interfaces of novel functional materials using scanningtunneling microscopy, atom-probe filed ion microscopy and low energy electron microscopy.
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬Kumagaya Prize of Japan Vacuum Society (1987)‫ܕ‬Materials Science Foundation Award (1991)‫ܕ‬The Acta Metallurgica et Materialia Best Paper Award for 1992 (1994)‫ܕ‬Best Paper Award of Japanese Institute of Metals (JIM), 1996, 2000

11

Curriculum Vitae

Tadafumi ADSCHIRIPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Division of Advanced System
Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials
Tohoku University
2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku
Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
E-mail㧦ajiri@tagen.tohoku.ac.jp
URL㧦http://www.tagen.tohoku.ac.jp/labo/ajiri/index-e.html
ACADEMIC:
1981 B.S. in Chemical, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
1983 M.S. in Chemical Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
1986 Dr. Eng. in Chemical Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Engineering, 1986
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1985-1987
JSPS Fellow, Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Tokyo
1987-1989
Assistant professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, The University ofTokyo
1989-1991
Assistant professor, Department of Bio and Chemical Engineering, Tohoku
University
1991-2001
Associate Professor, Department of Bio and Chemical Engineering, Tohoku
University
2001-present Professor, Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials,
Tohoku University
CURRENTRESEARCH:
Adschiri lab has beginning-research programs spanning broad research areas from computer
simulations to nanostuctured materials, magnetism, bioimaging, polymer and nanoparticle
synthesis. Since its establishment in 2002, Adschiri lab is growing and focuses their research
efforts on synthesis, characterization and studies of surface-modified inorganic nanoparticles,
which are soluble into water and/or organic solvents, and peptide/polymer engineering fornanostructured hybrid materials by using the hybrid nanoparticles.
RECOGNITION:

‫ܕ‬The JIE Award for Distinguished Paper (1999)‫ ܕ‬The CSJ Award for Creative Work (2002)‫ܕ‬The SCEJ Award for Distinguished Research (2007)12

Curriculum Vitae

Mingwei CHEN
PRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
International Frontier Center for Advanced Materials
Institute for Materials Research
Tohoku University
2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku
Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
E-mail㧦mwchen@imr.tohoku.ac.jp
URL㧦http://www.chen.imr.tohoku.ac.jp/
ACADEMIC:
1988 B.S. in Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, P. R. China
1991 M.S. in Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, P. R. China
1995 Dr. Eng. in Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, P. R. China
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Engineering, 1995
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1995-1997
Associate Professor, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
1997-1999
Guest Research, Institute for Material Research, Tohoku University
1999-2000
NRC Fellow, Naval postgraduate School, California, USA
2000-2003
Research Associate / Associate Research Professor, Johns Hopkins University,USA
2003-present Professor, IFCAM, Institute of Material Research, Tohoku University
CURRENT RESEARCH

1) Atomic-scale mechanisms of bulk metallic glass formation and mechanical behavior2) Deformation and failure of nanostructured materials under extreme loading conditions
3) 3D nanoporous metals for functional applications
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬Best Paper Award of Chinese Metal Heat Treatment Society (1994)‫ܕ‬Best Paper Award of Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society (CMES) (1996)‫ܕ‬National Research Council Associateship Award from the National Academy of
Sciences(1999)‫ܕ‬Best Paper Award of Japanese Institute of Metals (JIM) (2000)‫ܕ‬Award of 25th U.S. Army Science Conference (2006)‫ܕ‬Paul A. Siple Memorial Award for Army Research Achievements, U. S. Army(2006)
‫ܕ‬Best Reviewer Award of Scripta Materialia and Acta Materialia (2006)

13

Curriculum Vitae

Masayoshi ESASHI
PRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Micro/Nanomachining Research and Education Center
Graduate School of Engineering
Tohoku University
6-6-1, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku
Sendai 980-8579, Japan
E-mail㧦esashi@cc.mech.tohoku.ac.jp
URL㧦http://www.mems.mech.tohoku.ac.jp/index_e.html
ACADEMIC:
1971 B.S. in Electronic Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
1973 M.S. in Electronic Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
1976 Dr. Eng. in Electronic Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Engineering, 1976
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1976-1981
Research Associate, Department of Electronic Engineering, Faculty ofEngineering, Tohoku University
1981-1984
Associate Professor, Department of Electrical Communication, Faculty of Engineering, Tohoku University
1984-1990
Associate Professor, Department of Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tohoku University
1990-1997
Professor, Department of Mechatronics and Precision Engineering, Faculty ofEngineering, Tohoku University
1997-1998
Professor, Department of Nanomechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University
1998-2004
Professor, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center (NICHe), Tohoku University
2004-2005
Professor, Department of Nanomechanics, Graduate School of Engineering,Tohoku University
2005-present Professor, Micro/Nanomachining Research and Education Center, Graduate
School of Engineering, Tohoku University
CURRENTRESEARCH:
Study of advanced materials for MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems)
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬Japan IBM Science Award (1993)
‫ܕ‬SSDM Award (2001)‫ܕ‬Best of Small Tech Awards (Small Times Magazine) (2003)‫ܕ‬Purple Ribbon Award (2006)
14

Curriculum Vitae

Thomas GESSNERPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Director of Chemnitz Branch of
Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (FhG-IZM)
Director of Center for Microtechnologies ofChemnitz University of Technology
Reichenhainer Str. 88, 09126 Chemnitz, Germany
E-mail㧦Thomas.Gessner@che.izm.fraunhofer.deURL㧦http://www.zfm.tu-chemnitz.de/thomas_gessner.php
ACADEMIC:
1979 M.S. in physics, University of Technology Dresden, Germany
1983 Ph. D in Physics, University of Technology Dresden, Germany
1989 Dr.-Ing.habil. in Microelectronics Technologies, University of Technology Karl-MarxStadt, Salicide technology for ULSI under special consideration of MoSix
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Ph.D (Device Science/Technology), 1983
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1979–1983
PhD/Scientific Co-worker, Central Institute of Nuclear Science at the Academyof Science, Rossendorf/Saxony, Germany
1983–1990
Leader, Center of Microelectronics Dresden ZMD
1991–present Director and Founder, Center for Microtechnologies (ZfM)
Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Chemnitz
University of Technology,
1993–present Professor, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology,
Chemnitz University of Technology,
1994–1997
Vice-chancellor, Chemnitz University of Technology
1995–2006
Head of the Collaborative Research Center 379
1998–2007
Head of the department "Multi Device Integration" Chemnitz at Fraunhofer
Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (FhG-IZM)
2006–present Deputy Director of the FhG-IZM and Director of Branch Chemnitz of FhG-IZM
2006–present Dean of the Faculty, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology,
Chemnitz University of Technology
2006–present Head of the International Research Training Group 1215
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬Winner of the Excellent Student Award (PhD) of the TU Dresden (1982)‫ܕ‬Award for the application of new materials for micromechanical kinetic sensors, VDI
Germany (1995)‫ܕ‬Member of the Academy of Science in Saxony, Germany (1996-)‫ܕ‬Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Federal Republic of Germany (1998-2004)‫ܕ‬Award for the establishment of an interfaculty course in Microtechnology and Mechatronics
from the VDI/VDE Germany (2000)‫ ܕ‬Member of the "Senatsausschuss Evaluierung der Wissenschaftsgemeinschaft Gottfried
Wilhelm Leibniz"(2001-)‫ܕ‬Member of acatech (Council of Technical Sciences of the Union of German Academies of
Sciences and Humanities) (2003-)
15

Curriculum Vitae

Alan Lindsay GREERPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy
University of Cambridge
Pembroke Street, Cambridge,
CB2 3QZ, UK
E-mail: alg13@hermes.cam.ac.uk
URL: http://www.msm.cam.ac.uk/Department/DeptInfo/StaffProfiles/Greer.html
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Ph.D. (Metallurgy & Materials Science), 1979
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1980-1981
NATO Research Fellow in the Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard
University, Cambridge, USA
1981-1984
Assistant Professor, Applied Physics, Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard
University, Cambridge, USA
1984-1988
Senior Assistant Researcher, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy,
University of Cambridge, UK
1988-1996
University Lecturer, Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, Universityof Cambridge, UK
1994-1994
Invited Professor at the Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble, andVisiting Scientist at the Centre d'Études Nucléaires de Grenoble.
1996-2001
Reader in Microstructural Kinetics, University of Cambridge
2001-2005
Deputy Head of Dept. of Materials Sci. & Metallurgy, Univ. of Cambridge
2005-2005
Clark Harrison Distinguished Visiting Professor of Physics,
Center for Materials Innovation, Washington University, USA
2001-present Professor, Materials Science, University of Cambridge
2006-present Head of Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, University of Cambridge
CURRENT RESEARCH:
General interests are in microstructural kinetics and the glassy state. Current research projects
are on: nucleation in condensed systems, modeling of grain refinement in aluminum alloys,
electromigration effects on metallic interdiffusion, chalcogenide phase-change materials forcomputer memory, production and mechanical properties of bulk metallic glasses. This last
topic relates directly to the WPI, and has included work on the mechanisms of plastic
deformation and on strategies for improving the plasticity of metallic glasses.
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬IBM Faculty Development Award (1983)‫ܕ‬W. H. Zachariasen Award of the Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids (1989)‫ܕ‬Light Metals Award of TMS (USA) (1998)‫ܕ‬Cast Shop Technology Award of TMS (USA) (1999)‫ܕ‬Cook-Ablett Award of the Institute of Materials (UK) (2000)‫ܕ‬Pilkington Teaching Prize of the University of Cambridge (2000)‫ܕ‬Senior Scientist Medal of the International Symposium on Metastable, Mechanically Alloyed

and Nanocrystalline Materials (2000)‫ܕ‬Honda Kotaro Medal of Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan (2004)‫ܕ‬Hume Rothery Prize of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (UK) (2006)16

Curriculum Vitae

Tomihiro HASHIZUMEPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Senior Research Scientist &Deputy Laboratory Manager,
Bio and Measurement Systems Laboratory,
Advanced Research Laboratory, Hitachi,Ltd. Hatoyama, Saitama 350-0395, Japan
E-mail㧦tomihiro.hashizume.qb@hitachi.com
URL㧦http://www.wpi-aimr.tohoku.ac.jp/en/jobopp02.html
ACADEMIC:
1981 B. S. in Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Japan
1983 M. S. in Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Japan
1986 Ph. D. in Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Ph. D. in Applied Physics, 1986
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1986-1987
Postdoctoral Member of Technical Staff AT&T Bell Laboratories.
1987-1989
Research Associate, The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University ofTokyo.
1989-1994
Associate Professor, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University.
1994-1996
Senior Contract Research Scientist, Advanced Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd.
1996-present Senior Research Scientist, Advanced Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd.
2005-present Liaison Professor, Department of Physics, Tokyo Institute of Technology.
CURRENTRESEARCH: Interfaces of materials have been attracting great attention due to theirappealing physical and industrial properties. In order to understand these fascinating interfaces in
an atomic scale, we explore new interface physics at the organic/inorganic interfaces and oxide
heterostructures, such as ferromagnetism, superconductivity, and charge transfer, by utilizing
scanning probe microscopy (SPM), atom probe, and other advanced nanomeasurement
techniques.
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬Kumagaya Award for the Best Annual Vacuum Science Paper(1987)‫ܕ‬Inoue Award for Young Scientists(1988)‫ܕ‬Scientific Measurement Award(1992)‫ܕ‬Metallic Materials Science Award(1992)‫ܕ‬Harada Award for Young Scientists(1992)

17

Curriculum Vitae

Kevin J. HEMKER
PRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Mechanical Engineering
Materials Science and EngineeringJohns Hopkins University
3400 N. Charles Street, Latrobe Hall 101,
MD 21218-2681, USA
E-mail㧦hemker@jhu.edu
URL㧦http://www.jhu.edu/~matsci/people/faculty/hemker/hemker.html
ACADEMIC:
1985 B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, USA
1987 M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, USA
1990 Ph. D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, USA
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Ph. D. Materials Science and Engineering, 1990
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1985-1990
Research Assistant, Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University,USA
1990-1993
Postdoctoral Fellow, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne, Switzerland
1990-2007
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering,Johns Hopkins University (JHU), USA
1993-presentSecondary Appointment, Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
Whiting School of Engineering, JHU
1995
Invited Professor, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale Lausanne, Switzerland
1997-2001
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering,
JHU, USA
1993-presentCo-director, Johns Hopkins University Electron Microscopy Facility, USA
1998-presentJoint Appointment, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Krieger Schoolof Arts and Sciences, JHU, USA
2000
Invited Professor, Université Paris Nord, Institut Galilée, Paris, France
2001-present Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, JHU,
USA
2001-present Chair, Mechanical Engineering Program, Part-time Engineering, JHU, USA
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬National Young Investigator, National Science Foundation, Division of Materials Research,

Metals Research Program (1994).
‫ܕ‬Research Initiation Award, National Science Foundation, Directorate for Engineering,

Mechanics and Materials Program (1994).
‫ܕ‬Materials Science Research Silver Medal, American Society of Materials (ASM) (2001).

18

Curriculum Vitae

Yuichi IKUHARAPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Institute of Engineering Innovation
School of Engineering
The University of Tokyo
2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku,
Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
E-mail㧦ikuhara@sigma.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp
URL㧦http://interface.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/
ACADEMIC:
1983 B. S. in Metallurgy, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
1985 M. S. in Materials Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
1988 Dr. Eng. in Materials Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Engineering, 1988
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1988-1993
Japan Fine Ceramics Center (JFCC)
1993-1996
Division Manager, Microstructure Characterization Division, JFCC
1996-2003
Associate Professor, Materials Sciences, The University of Tokyo
2003-present Director and Professor, Institute of Engineering Innovation, The University ofTokyo
CURRENTRESEARCH:(1)Atomic structure characterizations by advanced STEM and HREM
(2)Interface structures and properties for ceramics, semiconductor and metal.
(3)Design of interface controlled device
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬Honda Silver Award, Honda Memorial Foundation (1990)‫ܕ‬Murakami Promotion Award, Murakami Memorial Foundation (1998)‫ܕ‬Society promotion award, Japanese Society of Materials (1998)‫ܕ‬The Academic Prize, Ceramics Society of Japan (2001)‫ܕ‬The Exploits Award, Japan Institute of Metals (2001)‫ܕ‬Fulrath Award, American Ceramics Society (2002)‫ܕ‬The Testimonial Prize, Japan Institute of Metals (2006)‫ܕ‬The Academic Prize (Seto Award), Japanese Microscopy Society (2007)

19

Curriculum Vitae

Kingo ITAYAPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Department of Applied Chemistry
Graduate School of Engineering
Tohoku University
6-6-04 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku
Sendai 980-8579, Japan
E-mail㧦itaya@atom.che.tohoku.ac.jp
URL㧦http://www.che.tohoku.ac.jp/~atom/
ACADEMIC:
1972 B. S. in Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
1974 M. S. in Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
1977 Dr.Eng. in Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Engineering, 1977
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1977-1979 Post-doctorial researcher at University of Texas at Austin
1979-1982 Research Assistant at Institute of Electric Communication in Tohoku University
1982-1984 Research Assistant at Faculty of Engineering, Tohoku University
1984-1991 Associate Professor at Faculty of Engineering, Tohoku University
1991-present Professor at Faculty of Engineering, Tohoku University
1992-1997
Research Director of “Itaya-Solid/Liquid Interface” of ERATO Project/JST
2002-2008
Research Director of CREST/JST
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬Honorary Professor of Chinese Academy of Science (Chemical Institute)‫ܕ‬The CSJ Award for Young Chemists (1983)
‫ܕ‬The CSJ Award for Creative Work (1993)
‫ܕ‬Nishina Memorial Prize (1996)
‫ܕ‬Medal with Purple Ribbon (2003)‫ܕ‬The Chemical Society of Japan (CSJ) Award (2004)


20

Curriculum Vitae

Masashi KAWASAKIPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Superstructured Thin Film Chemistry
Institute for Materials Research
Tohoku University
2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku
Sendai, 980-8577 Japan
E-mail㧦kawasaki@imr.tohoku.ac.jp
URL㧦http://www.kawasaki.imr.tohoku.ac.jp/English/top.html
ACADEMIC:
1984 B. S. University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
1986 M. S. University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
1989 Dr. Eng. University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Engineering, 1989
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1989-1989
JSPS Post Doc Fellow at Hitachi Central Research Center (Tokyo)
1989-1991
Post Doc Fellow, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center (New York, USA)1991-1997
Research Associate, Tokyo Institute of Technology
1997-2001
Associate Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology
2001-present Professor, Tohoku University
CURRENTRESEARCH: Exploration of novel physical properties and their functionalization as
prototype devices in heterostructured oxide materials.
RECOGNITION:
‫ܕ‬The Best Paper Award, MRS-Japan (1989)‫ܕ‬The JSPS Committee Award, JSPS 146 Committee (1996)
‫ܕ‬The Symposium Highlight Award, MRS (1997)
‫ܕ‬Science and Technology of Superconductivity Award (1997)‫ܕ‬Marubun Young Investigator Award (2001)‫ܕ‬The IBM Japan Science Prize (2005)
‫ܕ‬Marubun Prize (2006)‫ܕ‬JSPS Prize (2007)‫ܕ‬Yamazaki-Teiichi Prize (2007)

21

Curriculum Vitae

Max G. LAGALLYPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Erwin W. Mueller Professor
Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Department of Physics
University of Wisconsin-Madison1109 Engineering Research Building
1500 Engineering Drive
Madison, WI 53706, USA
E-mail䋺lagally@neep.engr.wisc.edu
URL䋺http://www.engr.wisc.edu/mse/faculty/lagally_max.html
ACADEMIC:
1963 B.S. in Physics, Pennsylvania State University, USA
1965 M.S. in Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
1968 Ph.D. in Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Ph.D. (Surface Science & Technology), 1968
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1982-1993
Director, Thin-Film Deposition and Applications Center, University of
Wisconsin
1994-present Director, Interdisciplinary Research Group 1 (IRG1) of the NSF-sponsoredMaterials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC)RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬Fellow, American Physical Society (1980)‫ܕ‬Gordon Godfrey Visiting Professor of Physics, University of New South Wales, Sydney,
Australia‫ܕ‬Medard W. Welch Award, American Vacuum Society (1991)‫ܕ‬Humboldt Senior Research Fellowship, Forschungszentrum Jurich, Germany (summers
1992 and 1993)‫ܕ‬David Adler Lectureship Award, American Physical Society (1994)‫ܕ‬Fellow, American Vacuum Society (1994)‫ܕ‬MRS Medal, Materials Research SocietySociety (1994)‫ܕ‬Davisson-Germer Prize, American Physical Society (1995)‫ܕ‬Named a Rohm & Haas Lecturer, University of North Carolina (1995)‫ܕ‬Outstanding Science Alumnus Award, Pennsylvania State University (1996)‫ܕ‬Fellowship in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (1999)‫ܕ‬Member of the Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher - Leopoldina (the German National
Academy of Science) (1999)‫ܕ‬Member of the National Academy of Engineering (2000)‫ܕ‬Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2000)‫ܕ‬Tibbetts Award, U.S. Small Business Association (2000)‫ܕ‬Fellow, Institute of Physics, UK (2004)22

Curriculum Vitae

Terunobu MIYAZAKI
PRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research
Tohoku University
2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku
Sendai, 980-8577 Japan
E-mail㧦miyazaki@mlab.apph.tohoku.ac.jp
URL㧦http://www.wpiaimr.tohoku.ac.jp/en/index.html
ACADEMIC:
1967 B.S in Applied Physics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai,Japan
1969 M.S. in Applied Physics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai,Japan
1972 Dr. Eng. in Applied Physics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University,
Sendai, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Engineering, 1972
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1972-1973
Research associate, Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Engineering
Tohoku University
1973-1975
Research associate, University of Regensburg
1975-1985
Research associate, Tohoku University
1985-1991
Associate Professor, Tohoku University
1991-2007
Professor, Tohoku University
2007-2007
Guest Professor, Tohoku University
2007-present Professor, WPI-AIMR
CURRENTRESEARCH:
We are making various kinds of investigations in search of new and highly functionalized
magnetic materials. Our mottos are "inorganic to organic", "macroscopic to microscopic", and"single function to multi-function". Followings are examples of specific themes. (1)Spin andtransport in nanoscale magnetic materials. (2) Microfabrication process in hybrid magnetic
materials and development of magnetic random access memory (MRAM). (3) The search for
new and highly functionalized magnetic materials.
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬MSJ Distinguished Paper Award. (1997)‫ܕ‬MSJ Society Award (2003)‫ܕ‬Yamazaki Prize.(2005)‫ܕ‬Prizes for Science and Technology by Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology (2006)23

Curriculum Vitae

Masataka NAKAZAWA
PRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Broadband Engineering Division
Research Institute of Electrical Communication
Tohoku University
2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku,
Sendai 980-8577, JAPANE-mail㧦nakazawa@riec.tohoku.ac.jp
URL㧦http://www.nakazawa.riec.tohoku.ac.jp
ACADEMIC:
1975 B.S. in Electronics, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
1977 M.S. in Physical Electronics, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
1980 Dr. Eng. in Applied Electronics, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Engineering, 1980
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1980-1984
Scientist, Ibaraki Electrical Communication Laboratory of Nippon Telephone
and Telegraph (NTT)
1984-1985
Visiting Scientist, Optics and Quantum Electronics Group, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology
1985-1989
Group Leader, Nonlinear Optical Transmission Group, NTT
1989-1999
NTT Fellow engaged in research on optical soliton and high-speed transmission,
femtosecond pulse generation, and rare-earth doped optical fiber amplifiers andtheir applications
2001-present Professor, Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University
Engaged in research on ultrahigh-speed and coherent optical transmission andlectures on electromagnetism (undergraduate course) and opticalcommunications (graduate course)
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬IEE Electronics Letters Premium Award, U.K. (1990)‫ܕ‬IEEE Daniel E. Noble Award, U.S.A. (2002)‫ܕ‬OSA R. W. Wood Prize, U.S.A. (2005)‫ܕ‬Thomson Scientific Laureate (2006)‫ܕ‬Member of Japan Society of Applied Physics‫ܕ‬Member of Laser Society of Japan24

Curriculum Vitae

Toshio NISHIPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Department of Organic and Polymeric Materials
Graduate School of Science and engineering
Tokyo Institute of Technology
2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku,
Tokyo, 152-8550, JAPANE-mail㧦tnishi@polymer.titech.ac.jp
URL㧦http://west.polymer.titech.ac.jp/
ACADEMIC:
1965 B.S. in Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
1967 M.S. in Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Engineering, 1972
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1967-1980
Member of Research Staff, Bridgestone Tire Corporation
1972-1975
Visiting Scientist, Bell Laboratories, N. J. USA
1980-2003
Lecturer, Associate Professor, Professor of The Department of Applied Physics,
The University of Tokyo
1985
IBM Summer Faculty Fellow, USA
1986-1987
Bell Laboratories Consultant, USA
1993
Harold A. Morton Distinguished Visiting Professor of The University of Akron,
Ohio, USA2001-2006
Guest Professor of The University in the Air
2003-present Emeritus Professor of The University of Tokyo
2003-present Professor of The Department of Organic and Polymeric Materials, Tokyo
Institute of Technology
CURRENTRESEARCH:
1) Nano-mechanical properties mapping of polymeric nano-materials by atomic force
microscopy and related techniques. 2) Nanofishing of single polymer chains by atomic force
microscopy. 3) 3D-visularization of polymer processing by 3D transmission electron microscopy
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬The Award of the Society of Polymer Science, Japan (1991)‫ܕ‬SPSJ Award for Outstanding Achievement in Polymer Science and Technology (2005)

25

Curriculum Vitae

Tadahiro OHMIPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Industry Creation Section
New Industry Creation Hatchery Center
Tohoku University
6-6-10 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku
Sendai 980-8579, Japan
ACADEMIC:
1961 B. S. in Electrical Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
1963 M. S. in Electrical Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
1966 Dr. Eng. in Electrical Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Engineering, 1966
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1966-1972Research Associate, Department of Electronics of Tokyo Institute ofTechnology
1972-1976 Research Associate, Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku
University
1976-1984
AssociateProfessor, Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku
University
1985-1998 Professor, Department of Electronics, Faculty of Engineering, Tohoku
University
1998-2002
Professor, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University
2002-present Emeritus and guest Professor, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center,Tohoku University
CURRENTRESEARCH:
Contents of research are (1) Radical reaction gate insulator film formation, (2) Atomic order flat
interface between the gate insulator film and silicon, (3) Formation of very low workfunction
difference at the metal-silicide/silicon interfcace, (4) Balanced CMOS ultrahigh performance LSI
on (551) SOI wafer, and (5) Circuit design using new MOS transistors on (551) SOI wafer.
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬The Werner Kern Award (2001)‫ܕ‬The ECS Electronics Division Award (2003)
‫ܕ‬Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (2003)

26

Curriculum Vitae

Thomas P. RUSSELL
PRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Silvio O. Conte Distinguished Professor
Department of Polymer Science andEngineering
University of Masachusetts Amherst
Room A516, Conte Research Center
120 Governors Drive
Amherst, MA 01003, USA
E-mail㧦russell@mail.pse.umass.edu
URL㧦http://www.pse.umass.edu/~trussell/russellgroup.html
ACADEMIC:
1976 B. S. in Chemistry, Boston State College, USA
1976 M. S. in Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
1979 Ph. D. in Polymer Science and Engineering, 1979, University of Massachusetts at
Amherst, USA
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Ph.D. Polymer Science and Engineering, 1979
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1974-1979
Research Assistant, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
1979-1981
Research Fellow, Institut fuer Physikalische Chemie, Universitaet Mainz
1981-1996
Research Staff Member, IBM Almaden Research Center
1996-present Professor, Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts at
Amherst2004-present Silvio O. Conte Distinguished Professor, Polymer Science and Engineering
CURRENT RESEARCH:
Research interests include the surface and interfacial properties of polymers, phase transitions inpolymers, directed self-assembly processes, the use of polymers as scaffolds and templates forthe generation of nanoscopic structures, the interfacial assembly of nanoparticles, hierarchicalordering of synthetic and biologically-based systems, wrinkling and crumpling of thin polymer
films, and the influence of supercritical fluids on phase transitions and dynamics in polymer thinfilms.
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬American Chemical Society, PMSE Division: Arthur K. Doolittle Award (1984 with J. T.
Koberstein); Cooperative Research Award (2003, with C.J. Hawker)‫ܕ‬Dutch Polymer Award (2004)‫ܕ‬Polymer Physics Prize, Division of Polymer Physics, American Physical Society (2004)‫ܕ‬Fellow: American Physical Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science,
Neutron Scattering Society of America
27Curriculum Vitae

Masatsugu SHIMOMURAPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Division of Materials Design
Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials
Tohoku University
2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku
Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
E-mail㧦shimo@tagen.tohoku.ac.jp
URL㧦http://poly.tagen.tohoku.ac.jp/Site/Top.html
ACADEMIC:
1978 B. S. in Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
1980 M. S. in Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
1985 Dr. Eng. in Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Engineering, 1985
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1980-1985
Assistant Professor, Department of Organic Synthesis, Kyushu University
1985-1993
Associate Professor, Department of Industrial Chemistry, Tokyo University ofAgriculture and Technology
1993-2001
Professor, Research Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University
1999-present Team Leader of Dissipative Hierarchic Structure Research Lab. of Frontier
Research System of RIKEN Institute2001-2007
Professor, Nanotechnology Research Center, Hokkaido University
2007-present Professor emeritus of Hokkaido University
2007-present Professor, Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced
Materials, Tohoku University
CURRENTRESEARCH:(a)Preparation and application of metallized honeycomb and pincushion polymer films preparedby self-organization.(b) Simple preparation of new polymer assemblies from nano-particles
having hierarchical micro-phase separation structures.(c) Novel tissue culture devices for theregeneration medicine based on Honeycomb-patterned polymer films
RECOGNITION:‫ ܕ‬The Chemical Society of Japan (CSJ) Award for Creative Work (2000)‫ܕ‬Nano Tech International Nanotechnology Exhibition & Conference Award (2007)28

Curriculum Vitae

Alexander SHLUGERPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Department of Physics and Astronomy andLondon Centre for Nanotechnology
University College London
Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT,UK
E-mail㧦a.shluger@ucl.ac.uk
URL㧦http://www.cmmp.ucl.ac.uk/~ayg/group
ACADEMIC:
1976 B.S. Latvia State University, Riga, Latvia
1981 Ph.D. in Chemical Physics, L. Karpov Physics and Chemistry Research Institute, Moscow, USSR
1988 Dr. Sci. in Chemical Physics, L. Karpov Physics and Chemistry Research Institute, Moscow,
USSR
1992 Dr. Habil, Latvia University, Riga, Latvia
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Ph.D. (Chemical Physics), 1981/Dr. Sci.(Chemical Physics), 1988/Dr. Habil., 1992
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1976-1988
Junior Research Associate, Senior Research Associate, Leading Research
Associate, Chemical Faculty, Latvia State University, Riga
1988-1994
Head of the Department of Chemical Physics of Condensed Matter, Latvia State
University, Riga
1994-1997
Professor, Director Institute of Chemical Physics, University of Latvia, Riga
1995-2002
Senior Research Fellow, Principal Research Fellow, Department of Physics andAstronomy, University College London, UK
2002-2004
Reader, Department of Physics and Astronomy University College London, UK
2004-present Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London,UK
2006-present Head of Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Department of Physics andAstronomy and London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London,UK
CURRENT RESEARCH:
My main research interests broadly concern the mechanisms of defect processes in the bulk andat surfaces of insulators. I develop theoretical methods for predictive modeling of point defects,
self-trapped excitons and polarons in insulating materials; created new models of self-trapped
excitons and point defects and predicted their properties in a broad range of insulators;
pioneered theoretical modeling of Scanning Force Microscopy imaging of insulating surfaces
and developed the mechanisms of chemical resolution in Scanning Force Microscopy; developed
the mechanisms of photo-induced desorption of insulating surfaces and selective photo-induced
modification of insulating surfaces; developed new theoretical models of defects in amorphoussilica and in new high-k gate oxides for micro-electronics applications. My current research is
focused on predicting properties of defects and mechanisms of defect processes atsemiconductor/oxide and metal/SAM interfaces, developing mechanisms of manipulation of
atoms and molecules at insulating surfaces and thin films using Atomic Force Microscope tips
and predicting diffusion and chemical properties of molecules and nanoclusters at surfaces.
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬Member of the Steering Committee of NATRIBO European Science Foundation Scientific
Programme29Curriculum Vitae

Takashi TAKAHASHIPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Department of Physics
Graduate School of Science
Tohoku University
6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku
Sendai 980-8578, Japan
E-mail㧦t.takahashi@arpes.phys.tohoku.ac.jp
URL㧦http://arpes.phys.tohoku.ac.jp/
ACADEMIC:
1974 B.S. in Physics, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
1979 M.S. in Chemical Physics, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
1982 Dr. Sci. in Solid-State Physics, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Science (Solid-State Physics) 1982
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1974-1977
Researcher, Hitachi Electric Co. Ltd.
1981-1994
Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Tohoku University
1994-2001
Associate Professor, Department of Physics, Tohoku University
2001-present Professor, Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku
University
CURRENTRESEARCH:
High-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) study of the electronic
structure and mechanism of properties in novel functional materials
1. High-temperature superconductors and related materials
2. Graphite and related materials (graphene, carbon nanotubes, graphite intercalation
compounds)
3. One-dimensional quantum metal wires and super thin metal films
4. Surface magnetism
5. Development of ultrahigh-resolution spin-resolved photoemission spectrometer
RECOGNITION:‫ ܕ‬MEXT Science and Technology Award by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Scienceand Technology of Japan (2005)

30

Curriculum Vitae

Katsumi TANIGAKIPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Department of Physics
Graduate School of Science
Tohoku University
6-3 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku
Sendai 980-8578, Japan
E-mail㧦tanigaki@sspns.phys.tohoku.ac.jp
URL㧦http://sspns.phys.tohoku.ac.jp/
ACADEMIC:
1978 B.S. in Applied Chemistry, Yokohama National University, Japan
1980 M.S. in Applied Chemistry, Yokohama National University, Japan
1989 Dr. Eng. in Materials Engineering, Yokohama National University, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Engineering, 1989
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1980-1989
Principal Researcher, Central Research Laboratories, NEC Corporation.
1989-1998
Research Leader of Molecular Electronics, Fundamental Research Laboratories,
NEC Corporation
1998-2004
Professor, Department of Materials Science, Graduate of Science, Osaka-City
University
2004-present Professor, Department of Physics, Graduate of Science, Tohoku University
CURRENTRESEARCH:
Our research focuses on fabrication of novel materials that cannot be produced by theconventional nano fabrication technology, from which we can expect very intriguing physicalproperties and apply them to observe new scientific phenomena as well as to pursue theadvanced electronic devices. We are currently developing exotic materials together with theirsingle crystal and thin film fabrication techniques to explore an important research area to be
spreading as the world-wide research in the future.
RECOGNITION:
‫ܕ‬The Osaka Prize (2000)

31

Curriculum Vitae

Michio TOKUYAMAPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Complex Flow Division
Institute of Fluid Science
Tohoku University
2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku
Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
E-mail㧦tokuyama@fmail.ifs.tohoku.ac.jp
URL㧦http://www.ifs.tohoku.ac.jp/tokuyama-lab/
ACADEMIC:
1972 B.S. in Physics, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
1974 M.S. in Physics, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
1977 Dr. Sci. in Physics, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Science, 1977
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1977-1980
Research Associate, M.I.T., Cambridge, USA
1980-1981
Research Associate, University Stuttgart, Germany, Stuttgart, Germany
1981-1982
Research Associate, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
1984-1990
Associate Professor, Department of Engineering, Tohwa University
1987-1988
Visiting Scholar, Stanford University, Palo Alto, USA
1990-2001
Professor, Department of Engineering, Tohwa University
1993-1994
Visiting Scientist, M.I.T., Cambridge, USA
2001-present Professor, Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University
CURRENTRESEARCH:
In our Laboratory, the theoretical and simulation study of structure and dynamics in glassforming liquids are made from a unified point of view recently obtained. The research covers awide area of different fields from fragile glass-forming systems, including colloidal glasses andproteins, and metallic glasses to strong glass-forming systems.

32

Curriculum Vitae

Rudolf M. TROMPPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Senior Researcher
IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center
1101 Kitchawan Road, Route 134,
Yorktown Heights, N.Y. 10598, USA
E-mail㧦rtromp@us.ibm.com
URL㧦http://domino.research.ibm.com/comm/pr.nsf/pages/bio.rudolf_tromp.html
ACADEMIC:
1972 B. S. Gymnasium, Alkmaar, Netherlands
1976 M.S. in Physics Engineering, Twente University of Technology, Netherlands
Physics Engineer,
1982 Ph. D in Physics and Mathematics, FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics,
Amsterdam Cum Laude, Utrecht, Netherlands
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Ph.D. (Surface Science & Technology), 1982
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1983-1987
Research Staff Member, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
1987-1993
Manager Interface Science, IBM Watson Research Center
1996-2000
Manager Analytical Science, IBM Watson Research Center
2000-2001
Consultant, IBM Corporate Technical Strategy Development
2001-2002
Research Staff Member, IBM Watson Research Center
2002
IFCAM Professor Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
2002-2004
Manager of Molecular Assemblies and Devices, IBM Watson Research Center
2004-present Senior Manager of Nanoscale Materials and Devices, IBM Watson ResearchCenter
2006-present Professor of Physics, University of Leiden, Netherlands
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬Wayne B. Nottingham Prize at P. E. C. (1981)‫ܕ‬IBM Outstanding Innovation Award (1987)‫ܕ‬IBM Outstanding Innovation Award (1991)‫ ܕ‬IBM Outstanding Technical Achievement Award (1992)‫ܕ‬Materials Research Society Medal (1995)‫ܕ‬Davisson-Germer Prize of the American Physical Society (2003)‫ܕ‬IBM Outstanding Technical Achievement Award (2003)‫ܕ‬Medard W. Welch Award of the American Vacuum Society (2004)

33

Curriculum Vitae

Masaru TSUKADA
PRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering
Waseda University
Okubo 3-4-1, Shinjuku-ku,
Tokyo 169-8555, JAPANE-mail㧦tsukada@cms.nano.waseda.ac.jp
URL㧦http://www.cms.nano.waseda.ac.jp/
ACADEMIC:
1965 B.S. in Physics, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
1967 M.S. in Physics, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
1970 Dr. Sci. in Physics, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Science, 1970
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1970-1976
Research Associate at the Department of Physics, University of Tokyo
1976-1982
Associate Professor at Institute for Molecular Science
1982-1991
Associate Professor at the Department of Physics, University of Tokyo
1991-2004
Professor at the Department of Physics, University of Tokyo
2004-present Visiting Professor at Waseda University, Graduate School of Science andEngineering
CURRENTRESEARCH:
Theoretical studies are pursued mainly with computational approaches on properties of nanoscale materials and their bridge structures with electrodes, such as atomic and electronic
structures, formation processes, transport properties, combined photonic and electronic processes,
and their nano-mechanical control. Novel theoretical or computational methods for the above aredeveloped; appropriate computational methods or analytical methods for the nano-scale systems
as non-equilibrium nonlinear open system over different scales are developed, and with use ofsuch methods, novel nano-materials with useful functions are explored. Novel useful composite
materials systems of organic molecules, including polymers and bio-molecules, and inorganic
materials are explored and designed. Development of the methods of theoretical analyses forscanning probe microscopy (SPM), in particular the simulation methods for SPM are studied andapplied for the proposals of innovating artificial nano-materials and their functionalization.
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬Surface Science Society Award (1999)‫ܕ‬Nanoprobe Technology Award (2000)‫ܕ‬The Chair of the Surface Science Society of Japan (2002)

34

Curriculum Vitae

Li-Jun WAN
PRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor, Director
Institute of Chemistry
Chinese Academy of Science (CAS)Beijing 100080, P.R. China
E-mail㧦wanlijun@iccas.ac.cn
URL㧦http://spm.iccas.ac.cn/englishhome.htm
ACADEMIC:
1982 B.E. in Materials Science, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian Universityof Technology, P. R. China
1987 M.S. in Materials Science, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian
University of Technology, P. R. China
1996 Dr. Eng. in Materials Chemistry, Dept. of Applied Chemistry, Faculty Engineering,Tohoku University, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Ph. D. (Materials Chemistry), 1996
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1987-1992
Lecturer in Institute of Materials and Technology, Dalian Maritime University,
Dalian, P.R. China
1996-1997
Researcher in Itaya Electromicroscopy Project, ERATO/JST, Japan
1997-1998
Visiting Professor in Catalysis Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo,Japan
1998-2000
Assistant Professor, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
1999-present Professor, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
2004-present Director Institute of Chemistry, CAS, Beijing, China
2005-present Director, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Beijing, China
CURRENT RESEARCH:
Molecular Self-Assembly and Devices, Scanning Probe Microscopy, Materials Chemistry,
Electrochemistry
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2007)‫ܕ‬2nd –class Award of National Natural Science of China (2007)st‫ܕ‬1 –class Award of Natural Science of Beijing (2005)‫ܕ‬1st –class Award of China Association of Instrumentation and Analysis (2003)‫ܕ‬Young Knowledge Innovation Prize of Chinese Chemical Society-BASF (2001-2002)

35

Curriculum Vitae

Paul S. WEISSPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Distinguished Professor
Departments of Chemistry and Physics
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802-6300, USA
E-mail㧦stm@psu.edu
URL㧦http://www.nano.psu.edu/
ACADEMIC:
1980 S.B. and S.M. in Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,USA
1986 Ph.D. in Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley,USA
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Ph.D. (Chemistry), 1986
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1986-1988
Post-Doctoral Member of Technical Staff, AT&T Bell Laboratories, USA
1988-1989
Visiting Scientist, IBM Almaden Research Center, USA
1989-present Assistant through Distinguished Professor, Pennsylvania State University, USA
2005-present Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Physics, and Nanofabrication Fellow,
Pennsylvania State University, USA
1996-1997
Visiting Professor of Molecular Biotechnology,University of Washington,
USA
1998
Visiting Professor, Venture Business Laboratory,Kyoto University
CURRENT RESEARCH:
Atomic-scale chemical, physical, optical, mechanical and electronic properties of molecules,
materials and supramolecular assemblies
Develop and apply new techniques to expand the functionality, applicability and chemical
specificity of scanning probe microscopies
Molecular and nano-scale devices
Advance nanofabrication down to ever smaller scales and greater chemical specificity.
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator (1991-1996)‫ܕ‬B. F. Goodrich Collegiate Inventors Award (1994)‫ܕ‬Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship (1995-1997)‫ܕ‬American Chemical Society Nobel Laureate Signature Award for Graduate Education in

Chemistry (1996)‫ܕ‬John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship (1997-1998)‫ܕ‬American Association for the Advancement of Science, Elected Fellow (2000)‫ܕ‬American Physical Society, Elected Fellow (2002)‫ܕ‬Pennsylvania State University, Named Nanofabrication Fellow (2005)‫ܕ‬Pennsylvania State University, Named Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Physics(2005)‫ܕ‬University of Pittsburgh, Levine Lecturer (2007)‫ܕ‬American Vacuum Society, Elected Fellow (2007)36

Curriculum Vitae

Qi-Kun XUE
PRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Member of The Chinese Academy of Sciences
Professor
Department of Physics
Tsinghua University
Science Building Room 2409
Beijing 100084, P. R. China
Phone: +86-10-62795618
Fax: +86-10-62781604
E-mail㧦qkxue@tsinghua.edu.cn
URL㧦http://surface.iphy.ac.cn/english/sf4E/introduction.htm
ACADEMIC:
1984 B.S. in Science, Optics Department, Shandong University, P. R. China
1990 M.S. in Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), P. R. China
1994 Ph. D. in Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), P. R. China
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Ph. D. in Physics, 1994
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1992-1994
Visiting Scientist, Institute for Materials Research (IMR),
Tohoku University, Japan
1994-1999
Assistant Professor, Institute for Materials Research (IMR),
Tohoku University, Japan
1996-1997
Visiting Assistant Professor, Physics Department,
North Carolina State University, USA
1999-2005
Director of State Key Laboratory for Surface Physics, CAS, P. R. China
1999-2007
Professor, State Key Laboratory for Surface Physics,
Institute of Physics, CAS, P. R. China
2005-present Distinguished Professor, Department of Physics, Tsinghua University,
P. R. China
CURRENT RESEARCH:(1) Low temperature scanning tunneling microcopy and spin-polarized scanning tunnelingmicrocopy(2) Atomic-scale study of growth/fabrication and quantum effects of low-dimensional nanostructures (metal nano-dots/clusters, nanowires and ultra thin films)(3) Spin-polarized electron transport for quantum computation/information and spintronics
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬President Prize for Excellent PhD Students, Chinese Academy of Sciences (1994)‫ܕ‬Member of The Chinese Academy of Sciences (2005-present)nd‫ ܕ‬The 2-Class Award for Advancements in Science and Technology of China (2004)37

Curriculum Vitae

Kazuyoshi YAMADA
PRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Neutron and Ȗ-Ray Spectroscopy on Condensed Matters
Institute for Materials Research
Tohoku University
2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku
Sendai, 980-8577 Japan
E-mail㧦kyamada@imr.tohoku.ac.jp
URL㧦http://www.yamada-lab.imr.tohoku.ac.jp/
ACADEMIC:
1972 B.S. Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
1974 M.S. in Faculty of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
1978 Dr. Sci. in Faculty of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Science, 1978
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1979–1980
Post Doctoral, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
1980–1994
Research Associate, Graduate School of Science and Faculty of Science,
Tohoku University
1994–1998
Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Science and Faculty of Science,
Tohoku University
1998–2003
Professor, Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University
2003-present Professor, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University
CURRENTRESEARCH:
The microscopically study exotic physical phenomena such as superconductivity in strongly
correlated electron systems by using neutron-scattering and other related techniques, anddevelopment neutron scattering techniques by using spectrometers installed in the research
reactor JRR-3 in Tokai.

38Curriculum Vitae

Masahiko YAMAGUCHIPRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Department of Organic Chemistry
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Tohoku University
6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku
Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
E-mail㧦yama@mail.pharm.tohoku.ac.jp
URL㧦http://www.pharm.tohoku.ac.jp/~sekkei/yakan-ehome.html
ACADEMIC:
1977 B. S. Department of Chemistry, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
1979 M. S. Department of Chemistry, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
1982 Dr. Sci. Department of Chemistry, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Doctor of Science, 1982
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1982-1991
Assistant & Associate Professor, Kyushu Institute of Technology
1987-1988
Fellow of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology,
Yale University, USA
1991-1997
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Tohoku University
1997-present Professor, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University
CURRENTRESEARCH:
The research of this group is directed to the development of materials containing organic andbiological nanomolecules, which respond to the external stimuli such as temperature, light,
electric field, magnetic field, ions, oxidation/reduction, catalyst, and others. This research will be
conducted based on high potential of organic synthesis including multistep synthesis, synthetic
methodology, catalysis, chemical reaction process, and chemical modification of biologicalpolymers.
RECOGNITION:‫ ܕ‬Chemical Society of Japan Award for Young Chemists (1987)

39

Curriculum Vitae

Alain Reza YAVARI
PRIMARY AFFILIATION:
Professor
Grenoble Institute of Technology
1130 rue de la Piscine,
BP 75, Domaine Universitaire, 38402
Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France
E-mail㧦yavari@ltpcm.inpg.fr
URL㧦http://bmg-rtn.inpg.fr/participants/grenoble.html
ACADEMIC:
1967 American College, Paris, France
1970 B. S. in Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
1980 Ph.D. in Applied Physics, Harvard University, USA
1987 Habilitation Diploma, INP de Grenoble, France
ACADEMIC DEGREE: Ph.D. (Physical Metallurgy), 1980
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1980
Research Associate, Harvard University (with Pr David Turnbull)
1980-1981
Assistant Professor, Institut National Polytech Grenoble (INPG)
1982-89
Chargé de Recherche CNRS (Assistant Research Professor)
1986
Visiting Professor, Kyoto University
1990Directeur de Recherche CNRS (Research Professor)
1993
Senior Scientist, AlliedSignal, Corporate Headquarters, N.J., USA
1995-1996
Honorary Professor, University of Complutense, Madrid, Spain
2000
Invited Professor, Tohoku University, Sendai Japan
1990-2001
Director of Research, CNRS࡮Head of Euronano:"Matériaux Nanocristallins et Métastables"
࡮Coordinator of the EU Research Network «H-Sorption in Nano-Mg Composites»
࡮Coordinator of the EU Research Network «Ductile BMG Composites»࡮Senior Guest Scientist, European Synchrotron Radiation Facilities (ESRF)
RECOGNITION:‫ܕ‬ISMANAM Gold Medal (1996)‫ܕ‬NEDO international grant (1997)‫ܕ‬1st Betancourt-Perronet Prize of the French and Spanish Academies of Sciences (1997)‫ܕ‬International Copper Association ICA 2006 Award (2006)40

Opening Remarks
Yoshinori YAMAMOTO
Director of WPI-AIMR
Good afternoon everybody. I am
Yoshinori Yamamoto, Director of the
WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials
Research. I would like to extend ourhearty welcome to all of you. Thankyou very much for your participation.
Before introducing President of Tohoku
University to deliver the presidential
remarks and the distinguished guests todeliver the congratulatory remarks, I
would like to say a few words on thishappy occasion of Tohoku University
WPI Inauguration Ceremony.
First, I deeply appreciate all of you, distinguished guests, foreign guests, professors,researchers, our friends, and ladies and gentlemen, for coming here to attend this Inauguration
Ceremony. Secondly, I would like to note that the MEXT conceived this WPI program, thatis also called “Top 5 program,” a few years ago. We submitted our WPI program last May
when it was announced in late April to establish the WPI Research Center for
Atom-Molecule-Materials. After many, many screening and very strenuous interview inEnglish on August 30 and 31, we were fortunate to be chosen among five successful projects.
This success was largely due to the past and present scientific achievements of Tohoku
University and of course, due to the very high reputation and high scientific achievements ofall principal investigators. The success was also due to the very strong support of thepresident office of Tohoku University and those of the other administrative offices. I would
like to thank all of them. Then third thing and last, I would like to say is the followings.
Our final goal of this WPI is to establish really a top research center in the world on materials
science. And also to produce and to provide innovative and very useful materials to thesociety which contribute very much to the welfare of mankind.
To make these final goals attainable, I need your continuous support, strong
encouragement, and advices. By those strong supports, we will do, and we have to do our best
to reach this final goal. Thank you very much.

42

Presidential Speech
Akihisa INOUE
President of The University & WPI-AIMR Principal Investigator
Nobel laureate Dr. Rohrer, Tohoku University Presidents Abe and Yoshimoto,Distinguished guests, and Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to welcome all of you to thisexciting ceremony.
As President of Tohoku University as well as
one of the 30 principal investigators of the
newly established WPI research center, I would
like to express my sincere appreciation to allof you, some coming all the way from Europe
and the USA, for attending the Inauguration
Ceremonyof
TohokuUniversity’s
WPI-Research Center: Advanced Institute forMaterials Research (WPI-AIMR).
All of us at Tohoku University are
extremely happy to be selected by theJapanese Government as one of only fiveinstitutions to establish a World-premierinternational research center (WPI) over the
next 10 to 15 years. We officially started on
October 1, 2007 with governmental support ofclose to a half billion US dollars.
We happily note that this year is our100th anniversary. When I assumed the presidency last November, I set out the “Inoue Plan
2007” to highlight our goals to firmly establish a 21st century premier-research university.
I coordinated a university-wide effort in order to submit Tohoku University’s proposal toestablish a synergistic research center by excelling further in materials science, physics,
chemistry, mechanical engineering, microelectronics and information science and fusing allthese excellent disciplines together.
The government WPI Initiatives clearly state that, with favorable and concentrated funding,
we are expected to establish a world-premier international research center which should
benefit mankind of the entire world, by innovative research, global human-networking and acreative governing system.
Tohoku University was founded in 1907 as the 3rd National University, following
Tokyo and Kyoto. Our university is well-known for three major Innovative Concepts from its
earlier days: While Tokyo and Kyoto Universities were initially formulated to produce elitebureaucrats to run the central government.

43

Tohoku University’s aim was research-first (⎇ⓥ╙৻) from the beginning, rather thanimporting established knowledge from abroad.
Professor Kotaro Honda, founder of IMR, and the University President, introduced apioneering policy: basic-research for practical applications (ታቇਥ⟵), namely Science forthe benefit of mankind, rather than an “Ivory Tower” or “White Elephant” mentality.
An open door policy (㐷ᚭ㐿᡼)for everyone qualified is really unique, but well-publicizedby now, admitting a female undergraduate in 1916 for the first time in Japan as well as thosefrom technical schools in 1917.
These unique and innovative concepts are now the perfect base for WPI and our university
stands well ahead amongst many national universities, as the Government is telling allacademic institutions to do the same.
Upon its approval of our proposal, we named our WPI center the “Advanced Institutefor Materials Research (WPI-AIMR).” This Research Institute is headed by Professor Yoshi
Yamamoto, a world-renown chemist and Professor Toshi Sakurai, a physicist and mylong-time collaborator. 30 principal investigators have been appointed initially, 15 of them
are active Tohoku University researchers, four are from other domestic groups and eleven arefrom abroad, UK, France, Germany, USA and People’s Republic of China.
I would also like to note that our administration is very slim. All important decisions
will be made by the Executive Committee consisting of Professor Yamamoto, Professor
Sakurai, my Chief-of-staff Professor Kitamura and myself.
All PIs are expected to work 120% in research without teaching or administrative burdens.
We are very fortunate to be supported by a seven-member International Advisory Board,chaired by Dr. Heinrich Rohrer, honorary Doctor of Tohoku University, 1986 Physics Nobel
Laureate, and founding father of nano-science.
We intend to establish a couple of TU satellite branches around the world to strengthen
human-networking and excellence in materials science. We also plan to hire over 100
post-doctors and junior faculty staff in order to quickly reach a 210-manpower plateau by the
beginning of the 2009 academic year.
Our aims are very, very high and may not be easy to achieve. However, all of the PIs are
eager to work together towards the single mission of establishing a world-premier materialscience research center. I also intend to work harder and smarter as one of the researchers inthis program, in addition to functioning as the head of the host institution.
Based on well-advanced university-wide materials science facilities and personal
resources, we will try to further advance in three points
1) Advancements in methods based on atom, molecule level characterization and functional
control,
2) Creative functional materials and device development and3) Eco-friendly material-system integration, all basically for future prosperity.

44

Tohoku University’s solid foundation in theory/simulation, characterization/analysis
and fabrication/process technology is the very basic ingredient to achieve this endeavor. By
working intelligently and wisely under these principles, we believe that a truly world-premier
Research Center for materials will be established upon the completion of this program.
To conclude my speech today, I once again would like to thank all the participants for joining
our celebration and for the concerted effort towards excellence in research. We hope to meet you
again and again during next 10-to-15 years to witness and share the progress of our program.
Thank you once again.

45

Congratulatory Remarks
Hiroshi IKUKAWA
Director of Strategic Programs Division, MEXT
Thank you very much for your kind
introduction.
Good afternoon, ladies andgentlemen and distinguished guests. I am Hiroshi
Ikukawa, Director of Strategic Programs Divisionat the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology (MEXT). Mr. Yasutaka
Moriguchi, who is Director General of our Scienceand Technology Policy Bureau, was originallyplanning to come to attend the ceremony on behalfof our Ministry. However, he was called up by theDiet, Japan’s Parliament, which is in session, to bepresent at the committee meeting this morning.
Therefore, he asked me to convey his regret andoffer on his behalf a message of congratulations at
this Inauguration Ceremony for Tohoku
University’s WPI Advanced Institute for Material Research.
As you know, recent years have seen a fierce international competition to acquire andsecure the world’s best brains. To sustain and raise the level of its science and technology
amidst such competition, Japan must position itself within a global flow of intellectual
mobility. To do so, it would be necessary to build research centers of sufficiently highcaliber of excellence to attract outstanding researchers to Japan from all over the world.
Cognizant of this urgent/acute need, we, at the MEXT, established this year, the program:
World Premiere International Research Center Initiative (WPI). The WPI program, as it iscalled in short, provides concentrated support to several projects chosen in order to establish
research centers that possess own very high quality investigators. These centers have tobuild up a critical mass of outstanding researchers as well as research environment of highstandards to project them with a highly visible presence in the competitive global scientificcommunity. To support building such highly visible research centers, the Ministry will fundeach selected center project in a mount of around 1.5 billion yen (~US$14M) annually overthe period from 10 to 15 years. Therefore, both in terms of the project funding and duration,
this is the largest scale program to be administered by our government to date. This
commitment by the government is indicative of the high expectation being placed on several

46

funded project to succeed.
Our call for proposals this year has yielded 33 applications from 22 institutions. All ofthem were both, attractive and of a very high quality, making the screening process an
extremely difficult task. Ultimately, the Program Committee comprising of top Japanese andoverseas authorities selected five projects through a series of hearings with the first-levelscreening winners. Tohoku University is known to be “the Japan’s core research institute”
in a field of material science, carrying out highly successful programs that encompass very
basic to applied researches. The university has unquestionably contributed to elevating
Japan’s science and technology standards to the world-highest in a field of material sciences.
Tohoku University, indeed, ranks third worldwide in the research-paper citations, which is aclear indicator of high appraisal that the University enjoys internationally. Under Dr.
Yoshinori Yamamoto’s strong leadership, a research capacity amassed by Tohoku University
will be merged with that possessed by the world top researchers participating in the WPI
program. As such, I note that steps are taken to realize a top caliber international research
center with a high global visibility. Great expectation will be replaced in both in scientificimpacts and its role in vanguarding the reform of Japan’s science and technology system.
Giving the difficulties inherent in Japan’s geographical location and language, we recognizethat creating highly visible research centers that attract a good number of world front-line
researchers will not be an easy task. Nevertheless, both the Ministry and WPI Program
Committee recognize that forging success of these center projects will be essential to ensuring
the future advancement of Japan’s science and technology. As such, we are fully committed
to encouraging the further advancements of the WPI Centers through their successful
operation.
With Tohoku University’s president, Dr. Akihisa Inoue, and the Center Director,
Dr. Yamamoto, I am sure that all WPI members will be strongly motivated and committed topushing forward this project to full realization of its tremendous potentials.
I look forward
to you, creating a greatly visible WPI Research Center, Tohoku University.
Finally, I reiterate my congratulations and wish for the continuous success of Dr. Inoue,
the faculty of Tohoku University, and all gathered here today. Thank you very much andcongratulations.

47

Congratulatory Remarks
Motoyuki ONO
President of Japan Society for Promotion of Sciences (JSPS)

Thank you very much for your kind
introduction.
I am Motoyuki Ono, thepresident of Japan Society for Promotion of
Sciences. I am pleased to be able to say a few
words in this Inauguration Ceremony on behalfof JSPS. JSPS supports research driven by thefree ideas and initiatives of researchers
themselves.
As Japan’s leading funding
agency, JSPS fosters young researchers andpromotes international scientific exchange in
addition to funding scientific research. With
regard to the World Premiere International
Research Center Initiatives, JSPS has beencommissioned by MEXT to perform theprogram’s application screening process.
Tohoku University has a long history and distinguished tradition of research in thematerial science. It began when Dr. Kotaro Honda first established University’s Institute forMaterials Research. The institute has now compiled a world leading record of achievementsin this cutting edge field. Carrying forward that tradition, the university’s current president,
Dr. Akihisa Inoue, is himself a front runner in the Material Science field. He pioneered a
revolutional research on amorphous and bulk metallic glasses. As Tohoku University’s
President, he has created “Inoue Plan 2007” aiming toward a world leading university. It
places the university on a firm course for a world-premier academia which contributes to thesustainable society through scientific research. Director of new WPI Research Center, Dr.
Yoshinori Yamamoto, has compiled a brilliant record of research in organo-metallic chemistry.
He has also made substantial innovations to the university’s research management andoperational system as the director of major project under the 21 Century COE program.
From these various perspectives, we are delighted to know that Dr. Yamamoto is directing the
WPI-AIMR at Tohoku University. Under his strong leadership, we are confident that thecenter will develop rapidly and make cutting-edge advances on the frontiers of Material
Science. Material sciences not only have many applications in manufacturing field, but are48

also a key technology supporting advances across the entire range of science and technology.
Its use in developing energy conversion materials can contribute to a viable solution of global
energy supply problems. The development of revolutionary alternative materials canmitigate environmental problems and help to realize an eco-friendly society. And by
developing new bio materials, this research can improve people’s health and welfare. In
myriad of ways, material sciences are the truly vital field in paving the way for the future
development of human society.
In closing, I reiterate the great expectations we hold in the new WPI Research Center.
We look forward to it taking a world lead in Advancing research in the field of Material
Science and to producing superb research result. Thank you. Congratulations.

49

Congratulatory Remarks
Hiroyuki ABE
Former President of Tohoku University,
Advisor of Japan Science and Technology Agency
I was asked to propose a Toast in this happy ceremonial session. All of you must be
hungry and thirsty by now. However, please allow me to say a few words before a toast.
For establishing a world top class research center, it is necessary to realize participationof excellent young researchers and students from overseas countries. For this purpose, I
believe that it is most important to enhance the atmosphere of cutting-edge frontier science. I
also like to emphasize the importance of the cultivation of its spirits of science and spirits ofcreativity.
With my elderly advice, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to propose a toast to thesuccessful future of this new program, WPI-AIMR sponsored by MEXT and to thecooperation of all concerned.
Let me propose a toast in Japanese way, saying “Kampai!”Thank you very much.

50

Nobel Laureate Remarks
Heinrich ROHRER“WPI and Luck and Chances”
We heard many congratulations to
Tohoku University for being awarded thelarge WPI grant. On such occasions, I havealways my doubts whom to congratulate, therecipient or the donor.
Let me express it the way it is done at
weddings. The bridegroom gets thecongratulations for his choice, the bride you
wish all the luck in the common future.
Let me, therefore, first congratulate
JSPS for having selected Tohoku University
as recipient of a very large WPI grant. I also
congratulate JSPS for the courage andwisdom to entrust to the center this large
Material Science grant in globo without detailed topical strings and procedures attached. Thisis perfectly in the spirit of the all over proclaimed holistic thinking and acting in dealing with
important complex issues. I have not met alike anywhere else with any other science money
agency.
As to the luck, l wish all the scientists a lucky hand in choosing and solving mostchallenging scientific problems at the forefront of Materials Science, in engaging in new
ventures, and in giving Materials Science sort of a face lift. All the responsible ones, line andstaff, will need the luck. The trust in them by JSPS obliges.
I know luck is not what scientists are looking for. Luck it is not part of the scientificvocabulary. Intellectual mastery, bottomless knowledge, and scientific expertise rank highest
in the scientific community. However, luck is very crucial for novelty and for unexpected
findings and results. It is, therefore, an important driver of scientific progress. It is not ashame to be lucky in science. Actually, most scientists are lucky now and then, unfortunately
only very few are smart enough to notice it. That is how so many big chances are missed,
again and again. Missing them is the shame. I consider it as one of the key sins in science.

51

I will be an advisor to the WPI, but it is hardly appropriate to come up with advice
before the WPI has really taken off. Nevertheless, let me share some thoughts with you on the
projects and on Materials Science, some thoughts of an outsider.
Besides providing generous funds for about 30 demanding research projects, this WPIon Materials Science offers the chances to rethink some important issues in Materials Science.
Over the years, Materials Science has unfortunately changed from an all embracing
scientific activity to a highly fragmented conglomerate of narrowly focused expert interests.
Materials Science has lost quite a bit of its drive to new shores. It appears to me that IMR has
noticed the signs at the wall and seems to be on good ways to a coherent Materials Science
activity. I sincerely hope that the WPI Research Center will considerably enhance this drive
back to the future of an adventurous Materials Science. Crucial will be projects, beyond thepresent interests and activities of the Principal Investigators for which the latter have the full
support and encouragement of the responsible WPI political bodies.
With the WPI, Tohoku University gets a third Materials Science Institute on board. In
the sense of an all embracing Materials Science, such an Institute cluster appears sort of an
artificial construct. Whatever the solution, I like to stress that I do not advocate mergers forthe mergers sake and cooperation for the cooperation sake.
What the internal structure of the WPI is concerned, it appears to me a bit complicatedwith floating responsibilities. It might be difficult to satisfy both the needs of the WPI and
those of the Principal Investigators, in particular those of the off site PIs, with their double
and triple responsibilities and functions. Whatever worldwide networking, the center of thescientific activities should remain the WPI Research Center at Tohoku University and brains
have always priority over structures and procedures.
Let me end with some remarks on my notion of a changing Materials Science. Times
have changed and the action takes place now more at the interfaces of the classical expert
domains. An interface has two faces in various respects. It is the place where things often fallapart, be it between two different materials, be it between two military divisions of the samearmy. But it also acts as connection between different ways of thinking and, in materials,
between different properties on either side. This makes Materials Science much moredemanding but also much more rewarding.
A second remark concerns Materials science on the nm scale which I understand is a
key goal of the WPI. Sustainability is a key for science to benefit mankind, the recurrent
theme of the WPI, and Nano is a key for sustainability. We do already quite well what nm
scale analytics is concerned. Likewise we have already made some progress in nm scale52

modification of materials. However, we are nowhere yet what growth of a given nanostructure at a given nm position for a given function is concerned. I consider this as the central
and most demanding challenge of nm scale Materials Science.
Finally, molecular materials and components are of increasing importance, in particularfor nm scale structures, components and systems of them. For handling molecular materials
and building structures with them, the solid-liquid interface will be of prime importance. I use
to call it the interface of the future. Hopefully, it will not just remain that for ever.
For becoming a World Premier International Research Center in the first ranks ofscientific activity, you need all the luck you possibly can get. I wish you all that luck.

Sendai, Nov. 15, 2007

H. Rohrer

53

Research Prospect“Short History and Perspective of Bulk Metallic Glasses”
Mingwei CHENWPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, and Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku
University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
Abstract
The widespread enthusiasm for the research of bulk metallic glasses is driven by both thefundamental interest in the structure and properties of the disordered materials and theirunique promise for structural and functional applications. Unlike crystalline materials, thedisorder and nonequilibrium nature of metallic glasses leads to the underlying mechanisms ofbulk metallic glass formation and properties poorly known. In this article, I will brief review
the history of bulk metallic glasses and outline a few outstanding questions and critical issues
that are believed to be important for further bulk metallic glass research.
Amongst various glasses, metallic glasses are probably the youngest one in the big“glass” family. Metallic glasses possess a number of characteristics, such as high strength andamorphousity, which are shared by other glasses including window glasses (oxide glasses),
the one we are familiar with in our daily life. However, the most important feature ofmetallic glasses along with other glasses, which is distinguished them from amorphousmaterials, is a glass transition that transforms the glasses into supercooled-liquid states whenheated from low temperatures to high temperatures. Thus, metallic glass is scientificallydefined as an amorphous alloy that exhibits a glass transition where derivate thermodynamic
properties such as the heat capacity change abruptly.
The research on metallic glasses is closely related to metallic liquids. It is known thatthe atomic configurations of molten metals and alloys are disordered. The noncrystalline
structures are expected to be retained if the liquids can be quenched with a sufficient highcooling rate to prevent the formation of equilibrium crystalline structures. The critical coolingrates to freeze liquid structures are estimated in the order of 105 to 106 K/s for alloy systems.
This assumption was experimentally proved by a research group at Caltech in 1959. The
first reported glassy alloy with a composition of Au75Si25 was produced by rapid cooling of
liquid droplets. [1]. In this pioneering work, the authors quenched the metallic melt on a cold
metal surface, instead of into traditional quenching liquids. The good contact between the54

with a composition of Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10.0Be22.5.[9] It’s worthy to note that this alloy
contains 22.5 at. % beryllium, the smallest metallic atom, which is expected to fill empty
spaces more efficiently. Until now, this alloy is still one of the best glass formers and probably
puts the effect of multicomponent for dense packing to an utmost in Zr-based bulk metallic
glasses. Besides the explanation of the improved dense packing by multiple components, theimproved glass forming ability by the multiple components is also associated with the
reduced free energy of the alloy systems due to chemical mixing entropy effect. This can be
explained by “confusion principle”, i.e., “the more element involved, the lower the chance thatthe alloy can select viable crystal structures, and the great chance of glass formation”.[10]The findings of these new bulk metallic glasses with multiple components stimulate theextensive enthusiasm for metallic glass research in recent years. As pointed out by Greer in
one of his review articles [6], “the ability to form metallic glass very easy, in large crosssections, from common elements has naturally arouses much interest and leads to rapid
development”. This viewpoint is supported by the journal publication profile of metallic glass
research based on ISI database (Figure 2). Right after the birth of the multicomponent bulk
metallic glasses, the publications on metallic glass research dramatically increase with eachpassing year, in particularly after the year of 2000.
As discussed before, deep eutectic points in binary and ternary alloys systems havebeen widely used as the indications for searching good glass formers. However, it is notpossible to represent more than three components on a phase diagram and the eutectictransitions in quaternary and higher systems are rarely known. Therefore, it’s extremely
difficult to locate the compositions for best glass formers in multicomponent alloy systems.
So far, most of new multicomponent metallic glasses were found after a large number ofattempts. It thus has a compelling demand to uncover the underlying regularity for theformation of bulk metallic glasses. By statistically analyzing hundreds of alloys that haveexcellent glass forming ability, Inoue suggested three empirical rules for the formation of bulk
metallic glasses, i.e. (1) multicomponent systems consisting of more than three elements; (2)significant difference in atomic size ratios above about 12% among the three main constituent
elements; and (3) negative heats of mixing among the three main constituent elements.
Although there are a few exceptions, most of the best glass formers follow those rules,
implying certain physical principles, associated with the statistical mechanics, topology andmulti-body quantum mechanisms, play an important role in the formation of bulk metallic
glasses in multicomponent systems. However, the definite physical picture remains unknown
and the laws for quantitative composition design of bulk metallic glasses are still missing.
One important clue for understanding the underlying mechanisms of bulk metallic

57

glass formation is that the best bulk metallic glass formers in each alloy system generally
have a narrow composition range. Slightly changing the compositions or replacing constituent
elements can lead to obvious loss of glass forming ability. This characteristic is very similar tosome crystalline and quasicrystalline compounds with complex atomic configurations, such as
Laves phases and icosahedral phases. Therefore, the exact composition requirements for bestglass formers certainly indicate an inherent correlation between glass forming ability andatomic configurations of bulk metallic glasses. Understanding the atomic structures of bestglass formers is probably a viable way toward the destination for quantitatively designing new
bulk metallic glasses with ultra-high glass forming ability and excellent properties in physics,
chemistry and mechanics.
As an empirical rule, the most appropriate compositions for glass formation are thosestabilizing liquid phases relative to crystalline phases, such as the compositions close to deep
eutectic points where the metallic liquids can be deeply supercooled. Thus, the atomic
structures of metallic glasses have first been thought to be similar or even the same as thoseliquids. To explain the stability of simple metallic liquids at a temperature far below theirmolting points[11], Frank suggested that local icosahedral order might be responsible[12]because icosahedra are highly close packed, lack of the translational periodicity and difficulty
for growing up comparing to the crystal counterparts. This idea was subsequently pursued bynumerous experimental and computational investigations. However, it was found that for a
simple metallic liquid, the stability of icosahedra for finite clusters is largely relate to asurface effect and thus it does not imply that local icosahedral structure is favorable for a bulk
liquid[13]. The most appreciate structural model for metallic glasses is Bernal's dense random
packing model in which the glasses is assumed as the frozen metallic liquids and the atomic
arrangement is considered from purely geometrical sphere packing such as the ratios ofatomic radii[14, 15]. Bernal's idea can satisfactorily model the systems of monatomic metals
and alloys with constituent species having comparable atomic sizes. However, it does notprovide structure favorites on short- and medium-range ordering observed in real,multicomponent glassy systems that have very low critical cooling rates. Moreover, it has
been found that this model fails to describe metal–metalloid based alloys in which thechemical short range ordering is pronounced. [16-19] In light of this, Gaskell proposed a
stereochemically defined model that stipulates the local unit with nearest neighbors in
amorphous metal–metalloid alloys to have the same type of structure as their crystalline
compounds with a similar composition [16-18]. However, this model has not been proved bymetal-metal based metallic glasses. Regardless of the atomic configurations, it has been
generally accepted that the disordering of metallic glass can only be preserved down to acertain length scale. Atoms in metallic glasses prefer to form short-range orders (SROs) in58

which the local nearest-neighbor environment of each atom is similar to other equivalentatoms, but this regularity does not persist over an appreciable distance. With the fact that goodglass formers have higher density and thereby more packed atomic configurations thanordinary amorphous alloys with high critical cooling rates, it has been suggested that thehigher packing density is essential to achieve the high glass-forming ability [7-9, 20].
Although face-centered cubic (f.c.c.) and hexagonal close-packed (h.c.p.) packings have highpacking efficiency, those structures fail to explain the excellent stability of metallic glasses ina supercooled state. As an alternative model for dense packing, the highly packed icosahedral
orders have been widely considered as a possible structure unit of bulk metallic glasses. A
number of simulations and experimental observations have suggested that icosahedron is anenergetically favorable atomic structure in some metal-metal based metallic glasses.[8, 20-22].
However, the metallic glasses that can be the formers of icosahedral quasicrystals during
annealing generally have marginal glass-forming compositions and are not the best glass
formers. This fact indicates that the icosahedron may not be the only favorable structure unit
in metallic glasses. Therefore, the existence of a universal atomic model that possesses
general applicability to all metallic glasses appears highly impossible.
The densely packed atomic structure of metallic glasses is required to extend to themacroscopic scale in a real material. Thus, the knowledge of SROs is far not enough todetermine the overall structure of a disordered solid, which is dramatically different from acrystal where it is only necessary to solve the structure for a subunit that can be repeatedperiodically to produce the whole structure[23]. The efforts to define the structure of metallic

Figure 3.

Illustrations of portions of a single cluster unit cell for the dense cluster packing

model.[24]59glasses beyond the nearest-neighbor SROs have been one of the most outstanding questions inmetallic glass research. Recently, Miracle suggested a scheme to model the medium-rangeordering in metallic glasses.[24] In his model, efficiently packed solute-centered atomic
clusters are retained as local structural units. An extended structure is produced by idealizingthese clusters as spheres and efficiently packing these sphere-like clusters in f.c.c. or h.c.p.
configurations to fill the three-dimensional space (Fig. 3). Because of the internal strains andpacking frustrations, the order of the cluster-forming solutes cannot extend beyond a few
cluster diameters and thus the disorder nature of metallic glasses can be retained beyond
nanoscale. Based on experimental measurements and computational simulations, Sheng, et al
proposed an alternative cluster packing scheme to resolve the atomic-level structure ofamorphous alloys. By analyzing a range of model binary alloy systems that involve different
chemistry and atomic size ratios, they elucidate the different types of short-range ordering aswell as the nature of the medium-range ordering. Their results suggest that the icosahedral
fivefold packing is a more realistic ordering pattern for SRO cluster–cluster connection inmetallic glasses, rather than f.c.c or h.c.p cluster packing. With the schemes of cluster-cluster
packing, the dense structures without an appreciable translational symmetry can be extended
to 1-2 nm scale in metallic glasses. Although the research on the structure of metallic glasses
is the topic of recently intense discussion, the atomic configurations, in particular in
multicomponent alloys, remains to be an unsolved mystery. It is still a dream to design bulk
metallic glasses based on atomic packing laws.
One of the most notable properties of bulk metallic glasses is their extremely highhardness and strength, which makes them attractive for applications where strength andweight are critical. Nevertheless, the underlying deformation micro-mechanisms that control
the strength and ductility of bulk metallic glasses are poorly known. For crystalline metals
and alloys, the controlling factors of their mechanical properties have been well investigatedwith the development of dislocation theory and electronic theory, which can explain, in
general, the atomic and electronic origins of the strength and ductility of crystalline materials.
For disordered materials, such as metallic glasses, the definite correlation between mechanicalbehavior and their atomic and electronic structures has not been properly established.
However, it has been realized for long time that the mechanical properties of metallic glasses
are closely related to the chemical and physical possessions of their component elements [2].
The significant difference in mechanical performances, such as strength and ductility, varying
with the chemical compositions of metallic glasses, indicates the existence of an intrinsic
correlation between the mechanical properties and the atomic and electronic structures ofmetallic glasses. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been well understood and thephysical picture appears to be much more complicate than those of crystalline materials. The

60

plastic deformation of metallic glasses at temperatures far below Tg is known to be
inhomogeneous both spatially and temporally and carried by highly localized shear bands.
Inspired by the increasingly intense scientific and technological interests of metallic glasses
and the efforts of improving their mechanical properties, it is essential to identify theunderlying mechanisms responsible for ductility and strength of metallic glasses. Historically,
several theories have been developed to describe the heterogeneous plasticity of metallic
glasses. These models are mainly based on two atomic-scale mechanisms, i.e.
deformation-induced dilatation or free volume and local events of cooperative shearing ofatomic clusters termed shear transformation zones (STZs)[25, 26]. Unambiguously, the freevolume and STZ models provide simple and clear-cut explanations on the strain softening andthereby heterogeneous deformation of metallic glasses. They have been widely cited toqualitatively explain various mechanical properties of metallic glasses. However, carefully
considering the physical process of metallic glass deformation, one can find that both the freevolumes and STZs could be the origins and the results of plastic deformation, but not the
deformation process. The motion and re-arrangement of constitute atoms within shear bands
during plastic flow have not been made clear by the models. Moreover, they cannot provide
quantitative explanations on the strength and ductility of various bulk metallic glasses. The
appearance of a multidimensional potential energy surface, or potential energy landscape, of adisordered material can be related to the form of the interatomic or intermolecular potential.
Combining with catastrophe theory, it enables to describe how the geometry of the surfacechanges with parameters in the potential, and provides universal scaling relations that can
explain an unexpected connection between barrier heights, path lengths, and vibrationalfrequencies, with applications to a wide variety of problems, for examples, mechanicalbehavior of metallic glasses.[27] Derived from the energy landscape theory and Frenkel
scheme for the shear deformation of defect-free crystals, Johnson and Samwer recently
proposed a cooperative shearing model of STZs.[28] Although the Johnson-Samwer model isoriginally introduced to elucidate the temperature dependence of yield strength in a form of
T2/3, it has been shown to provide an effective interpretation of ductility and strength ofmetallic glasses, which may pave a new way to get a quantitative insight into the atomic-scale
mechanisms of bulk metallic glass mechanical behavior.[27]With the last twenty years’ efforts, a large number of bulk metallic glasses in various
alloy systems have been developed, which rouses the intense research interest in finding novel
physical and chemical phenomena in the non-equilibrium, disordered and multicomponent
solids. As outlined in this paper, many fundamental questions remain to be elucidated and thecomprehensive understanding in the properties and structures of bulk metallic glasses is far
from complete. Searching for new bulk glassy alloys with advanced properties and exploring61

atomic-scale mechanisms of bulk metallic glass formation and properties will continue to be
exciting areas in future research.
References
1.
Klement, W., R.H. Willens, and P. Duwez, NON-CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURE IN
SOLIDIFIED GOLD-SILICON ALLOYS. Nature 187:869-870 (1960)
2.
Chen, H.S., Glassy metals. Rep. Prog. Phys. 43:353-432 (1980)
3.
Chen, H.S., Thermodynamic considerations on the formation and stability of metallic
glasses. Acta Metallurgica 22:1505-1511 (1974)
4.
Drehman, A.J., A.L. Greer, and D. Turnbull, Bulk formation of a metallic glass:Pd[sub 40]Ni[sub 40]P[sub 20]. Applied Physics Letters 41:716-717 (1982)
5.
Kui, H.W., A.L. Greer, and D. Turnbull, Formation of bulk metallic glass by fluxing.
Applied Physics Letters 45:615-616 (1984)
6.
Greer, A.L., Metallic Glasses Science 267:1947 (1995)
7.
Inoue, A., Zhang, T., Masumoto, T., Zr-Al-Ni Amorphous Alloys with High Glass
Transition Temperature and Significant Supercooled Liquid Region Materials
Transactions, JIM 31:177 (1990)
8.
Inoue, A., Stabilization of metallic supercooled liquid and bulk amorphous alloys.
Acta Materialia 48:279-306 (2000)
9.
Peker, A. and W.L. Johnson, A highly processable metallic glass: Zr41.2Ti 13.8Cu
12.5Ni10.0Be22.5. Applied Physics Letters 63:2342-2344 (1993)
10.
Greer, A.L., Confusion by design. Nature 366:(1993)
11.
Turnbull, D. and R.E. Cech, Microscopic Observation of the Solidification of Small
Metal Droplets. Journal of Applied Physics 21:804-810 (1950)
12.
Frank, F.C., Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 215:43 (1952)
13.
Wales, D.J., Energy Landscapes with Applications to CLusters, Biomolecules andGlasses (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2003)
14.
Bernal, J.D., Geometry of the Structure of Monatomic Liquids. Nature 185:68-70(1960)
15.
Bernal, J.D., BAKERIAN LECTURE 1962 - STRUCTURE OF LIQUIDS.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series a-Mathematical and PhysicalSciences 280:299-& (1964)
16.
Gaskell, P.H., A new structural model for transition metal-metalloid glasses. Nature
276:484-485 (1978)17.
Gaskell, P.H., Medium-range structure in glasses and low-Q structure in neutron and
X-ray scattering data. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 351:1003-1013 (2005)
18.
Gaskell, P.H., A new structural model for amorphous transition metal silicides, borides,

62

19.
20.
21.

22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.

phosphides and carbides. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 32:207-224 (1979)
Sheng, H.W., et al., Atomic packing and short-to-medium-range order in metallic
glasses. Nature 439:419-425 (2006)
Inoue, A., et al., High packing density of Zr- and Pd-based bulk amorphous alloys.
Materials Transactions, JIM 39:318-321 (1998)
Chen, M.W., et al., Kinetic evidence for the structural similarity between asupercooled liquid and an icosahedral phase in Zr65Al7.5Ni10Cu12.5Ag5 bulk
metallic glass. Applied Physics Letters 79:42-44 (2001)
Chen, M.W., et al., Quasicrystals in a partially devitrified Zr65Al7.5Ni10Cu12.5Ag5
bulk metallic glass. Applied Physics Letters 75:1697-1699 (1999)
Elliott, S., Physics of amorphous materials (Longman, London, 1983)
Miracle, D.B., A structural model for metallic glasses. Nat Mater 3:697-702 (2004)
Spaepen, F., A microscopic mechanism for steady state inhomogeneous flow inmetallic glasses. Acta Metallurgica 25:407-415 (1977)
Argon, A.S., Plastic deformation in metallic glasses. Acta Metallurgica 27:47-58(1979)
Chen, M.W., Mechanical Behavior of Metallic Glasses: Microscopic Understanding ofStrength and Ductility. Annual Review for Materials Research 38, (2008), in press.
Johnson, W.L. and K. Samwer, A Universal Criterion for Plastic Yielding of Metallic
Glasses with a (T/Tg)2/3 Temperature Dependence. Physical Review Letters
95:195501-4 (2005)

63

“Atomically Precise Assemblies, Tools and Analyses”
Paul S. WEISS
Departments of Chemistry and Physics and WPI Satellite Center, 104 Davey Laboratory,
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-6300, USA

It is a great honor to be a part of the new Advanced Institute for Materials Research(AIMR). Having the long-term support to look beyond the horizon at materials andmeasurements, and to see how we can impact the world around us is indeed an awe-inspiring
task and opportunity. In our science, at the satellite center at Penn State and in ourcollaborations throughout the Institute, I see two drivers that will enable us to succeed in thismission.
Our first thrust will be to find the means
to bridge between the scale of synthetic
molecular chemistry, ca. 1 nm, and the scale ofconventional nanolithography, currently ~50 nm.
Tremendous possibilities open if we are able togo beyond simply carving up silicon, turning it
into metal or insulator or doped semiconductor.
We will not only expand the range of materials
addressed, but will also tailor the chemical, Figure 1. New patterning and assembly
physical, biological, and functional properties of methods will be developed that go far
exposed surfaces in order to enable new beyond today’s nanolithographic methods.
We will be able to place single molecules
possibilities and applications for materials. We
and assemblies in precisely defined
will develop capabilities to gain this control chemical environments.5
down to the sub-nanometer scale through thepatterning and control of single molecules in tailored environments (Figure 1).1-6
Our second thrust will be to develop new tools that simultaneously measure structure,function and properties with atomic resolution. These will enable us not only to optimize
our materials but also to enter a tight feedback loop of design, synthesis, assembly, andmeasurement that has served us so well in the a recent series of measurements on moleculardevices.7-10 These tools will combine scanning probes with spectroscopies from themicrowave to the ultraviolet (Figure 2), as well as measurements of motion, actuation,
polarizability, and many others.11-15 We will not only manipulate atoms, molecules,64

nanoclusters and larger assemblies to makeatomically precise nanostructures, but we willmeasure the energetic and other requirements ofdoing so.16-20 This will give us the insightrequired when we target high-value structures forsynthesis, and for self-, directed and hierarchicalassembly. In addition, we will develop new
methods of parallel analyses that enable
single-atom/molecule/assembly measurements on
the one hand, and sufficient statistics,
comparable to ensemble-averaged measurements,on the other (Figure 3).21,22 By preserving theinformation related to the heterogeneity of thesystems studied, we will be able to elucidate thekey control parameters of these nanoscale
systems and assemblies.21-24
Figure 2. New atomic-resolution absorption
and emission spectroscopies will be
developed to determine the properties ofprecise assemblies with unprecedented
definition.
Figure 3. New methods will be developed torecord many thousands of single
atom/molecule/assembly
measurements
while retaining all the heterogeneous
information due to the specific environmentand condition of each. This will yield
unprecedented insight into control ofstructure and function at the atomic scale.
Self-, Directed and Hierarchical Assembly to Create Precise Structures and Chemical
Patterns
One of the keys to creating atomically precise assemblies is to employ non-covalentinteractions. These have been used to exquisite effect in nature, but their exploitation in
artificial structures has only just begun. We need to understand and to tailor theseinteractions in order to control self-, directed and hierarchical assembly. Such interactions
can be exploited to stabilize one or more of several states of an assembly.7,8 Likewise, they
can be used to control which functions can be exercised at any given time.25 Ultimately, we65will use them to assemble precise structures in the 1-50
nm range.
This is largely unexplored territory.26 The tools
to test the structures assembled do not exist elsewhere.
Adding this capability to the ability to measure theassemblies' functions at the atomic scale will open up
new worlds for exploration and control. Our firstglimpses of this have already yielded surprises (Figure4).27 We will work closely with the theory groups of
the AIMR in order to understand and to exploit what weFigure 4. An atomically precisefind.
assembly of a single Au11 cluster
attached through a single
Atomic-Scale Manipulation
alkanedithiolate tether molecule
We will use our ability to manipulate atoms to to a substrate with a precisely
target high-value nanostructures with atomic defined chemical environment
has
surprisingly
unstableprecision.16-20,28 This enables us to make a series ofelectronic structure at 4 K andstructural variations efficiently (i.e., without having to 10-14 torr.27 We will learn how
synthesize each member of a family). Then, we can to stabilize and to predict thetarget the optimized structures for synthesis and properties of these as well as
precise assemblies with muchassembly with enormous economies of scale. We greater complexity.
have already shown that we can move atoms on andsometimes even underneath surfaces!16-20 When we do this, we can determine the energetics
of motion, and the potential energy surfaces of chemical reactions and supramolecularassembly rearrangements. With this information in hand, we can learn to manipulatepotentials so as to guide the dynamics and assemblies.18,29,30
New Nanoscale Tools and Analyses
The new tools and methods that we develop will be enabling in the sense of allowing
us to associate structure and environment with function and control. The goal is to retain
atomic resolution and to gain additional capabilities. These will include spectroscopies fromthe microwave through the infrared into the visible and beyond. These will also measurefunctions, such as actuation and coordinated motion.
These tools will enable us to measure the intrinsic properties of molecules andassemblies, such as the photoconductivity of specially tailored donor-acceptor complexes.
We will engineer function into and out of the complexes, thereby verifying our predictive
design capabilities and understanding. With this understanding, and tested by measurements,
we will optimize the molecular designs, the environment in which the assemblies function and66their attachment to contacts and interfaces. This will enable rapid advances in the design
and application of these assemblies.
Critical to this tight feedback loop of design, assembly and measurement is the ability
to do many parallel single atom/molecule/assembly measurements. We will continue todevelop and to apply advanced tools for this purpose.21-24 This will enable objective andstatistically significant assessments, and therefore to come to meaningful assessments offunction.
Prospects
In our satellite center at Penn State, in the chemistry and physics thrusts, and with ourexperimental and theoretical collaborations throughout the AIMR, we will push forward inthese areas, to open up unexplored territory, and to enable new science and new opportunities.
We will take inspiration from the measurements and approaches of chemistry, physics,
biology and engineering, merging these disciplines to create unprecedented understanding andopportunities. In doing so, we will cross-train a new generation of scientists to take us to
new levels of complexity, function, and precision.
References and Notes
1.
Patterning Self-Assembled Monolayers, R. K. Smith, P. A. Lewis and P. S. Weiss,
2.

Progress in Surface Science 75, 1-68 (2004).
Selecting and Driving Monolayer Structures through Tailored IntermolecularInteractions, T. J. Mullen, A. A. Dameron, A. M. Andrews and P. S. Weiss, Aldrichimica

3.

Acta 40, 21-31 (2007).
Combining Conventional Lithography with Molecular Self-Assembly for Chemical
Patterning, M. E. Anderson, C. Srinivasan, J. N. Hohman, E. M. Carter, M. W. Horn,

4.

and P. S. Weiss, Advanced Materials 18, 3258-3260 (2006).
Scanning Electron Microscopy of Nanoscale Chemical Patterns, C. Srinivasan, T. J.
Mullen, J. N. Hohman, M. E. Anderson, A. A. Dameron, A. M. Andrews, E. C. Dickey,

5.

M. W. Horn, and P. S. Weiss, ACS Nano 1, 191-201 (2007).
Microcontact Insertion Printing, T. J. Mullen, C. Srinivasan, J. N. Hohman, S. D.
Gillmor, M. J. Shuster, M. W. Horn, A. M. Andrews, and P. S. Weiss, Applied Physics

6.

Letters 90, 063114-1-3 (2007).
Biospecific Recognition of Tethered Small Molecules Diluted in Self-Assembled
Monolayers, M. J. Shuster, A. Vaish, M. E. Szapacs, M. E. Anderson, P. S. Weiss, and A.

7.

M. Andrews, Advanced Materials 20, 164-167 (2008).
Molecular Engineering of the Polarity and Interactions of Molecular Electronic
Switches, P. A. Lewis, C. E. Inman, F. Maya, J. M. Tour, J. E. Hutchison, and P. S. Weiss,

67

8.

Journal of the American Chemical Society 127, 17421-17426 (2005).
Mediating Conformational Switching of Single Molecules Using Chemical Functionality,
P. A. Lewis, C. E. Inman, Y. Yao, J. M. Tour, J. E. Hutchison, and P. S. Weiss, Journal of9.

the American Chemical Society 126, 12214-12215 (2004).
Molecular Engineering and Measurements to Test Hypothesized Mechanisms in
Single-Molecule Conductance Switching, A. M. Moore, A. A. Dameron, B. A. Mantooth,
R. K. Smith, D. J. Fuchs, J. W. Ciszek, F. Maya, Y. Yao, J. M. Tour, and P. S. Weiss,

Journal of the American Chemical Society 128, 1959-1967 (2006).
10. Real-Time Measurements of Conductance Switching and Motion of Oligo(phenyleneethynylene)s, A. M. Moore, B. A. Mantooth, Z. J. Donhauser, Y. Yao, J. M. Tour, and P.
11.

S. Weiss, Journal of the American Chemical Society 129, 10352-10353 (2007).
Alternating Current Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Nonlinear Spectroscopy, S. J.

Stranick and P. S. Weiss, Journal of Physical Chemistry 98, 1762-1764 (1994).
12. Linear and Nonlinear Spectroscopy with the Tunable AC Scanning TunnelingMicroscope, S. J. Stranick, L. A. Bumm, M. M. Kamna, and P. S. Weiss, Photons andLocal Probes, O. Marti and R. Möller, eds., NATO ASI Series E: Applied Sciences 300,
221-233 (Kluwer Academic, 1995).
13. Are Single Molecular Wires Conducting? L. A. Bumm, J. J. Arnold, M. T. Cygan, T. D.
Dunbar, T. P. Burgin, L. Jones II, D. L. Allara, J. M. Tour, and P. S. Weiss, Science 271,
1705-1707 (1996).
14. Scanning Probe Studies of Single Nanostructures, G. S. McCarty and P. S. Weiss,
15.
16.

17.

Chemical Reviews 99, 1983-1990 (1999).
Functional and Spectroscopic Measurements with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, A.
M. Moore and P. S. Weiss, Annual Reviews of Analytical Chemistry 1 (2008), in press.
What is Underneath? Moving Atoms and Molecules to Find Out, P. S. Weiss and D. M.
Eigler, in Nanosources and Manipulations of Atoms Under High Fields andTemperatures: Applications, Vu Thien Binh, N. Garcia and K. Dransfeld, eds., NATOASI Series E: Applied Sciences 235, 213-217 (Kluwer Academic, 1993).
Adsorption and Accommodation of Xe on Pt{111}, P. S. Weiss and D. M. Eigler,

Physical Review Letters 69, 2240-2243 (1992).
18. Formation and Manipulation of Protopolymer Chains, G. S. McCarty and P. S. Weiss,
Journal of the American Chemical Society 126, 16772-16776 (2004).
19. Observation and Manipulation of Subsurface Hydride in Pd{111} and Its Effect on
Surface Chemical, Physical, and Electronic Properties, E. C. H. Sykes, L. C.
Fernández-Torres, S. U. Nanayakkara, B. A. Mantooth, R. M. Nevin, and P. S. Weiss,
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (USA) 102, 17907-17911 (2005).
20. Dynamics and Spectroscopy of Hydrogen Atoms on Pd{111}, L. C. Fernández-Torres, E.

68

21.

C. H. Sykes, S. U. Nanayakkara, and P. S. Weiss, Journal of Physical Chemistry B 110,
7380-7384 (2006).
Conductance Switching in Single Molecules through Conformational Changes, Z. J.
Donhauser, B. A. Mantooth, K. F. Kelly, L. A. Bumm, J. D. Monnell, J. J. Stapleton, D.
W. Price, Jr., A. M. Rawlett, D. L. Allara, J. M. Tour, and P. S. Weiss, Science 292,
2303-2307 (2001).

22.

Analyzing the Motion of Benzene on Au{111}: Single Molecule Statistics from
Scanning Probe Images, B. A. Mantooth, E. C. H. Sykes, P. Han, A. M. Moore, Z. J.

Donhauser, V. H. Crespi, and P. S. Weiss, Journal Physical Chemistry C 111, 6167-6182(2007).
23. Cross-Correlation Image Tracking for Adsorbate Analysis and Drift Correction, B. A.
Mantooth, Z. J. Donhauser, K. F. Kelly, and P. S. Weiss, Review of Scientific Instruments
73, 313-317 (2002).
24. Cross-Step Place-Exchange of Oligo(Phenylene-Ethynylene) Molecules, A. M. Moore,
B. A. Mantooth, Z. J. Donhauser, F. Maya, D. W. Price, Jr., Y. Yao, J. M. Tour, and P. S.
Weiss, Nano Letters 5, 2292-2297 (2005).
25. Reversible Photo-Switching of Single Molecules in Controlled Nanoscale Environments,
A. S. Kumar, T. Ye, T. Takami, B.-C. Yu, A. K. Flatt, J. M. Tour, and P. S. Weiss,
submitted for publication.
26. Aiming High, P. S. Weiss, ACS Nano 1, 377-378 (2007).
27. Spectral Diffusion in the Tunneling Spectra of Chemically Precise, Ligand-Stabilized
Undecagold Clusters, R. K. Smith, S. U. Nanayakkara, G. H. Woehrle, T. P. Pearl, M. M.

28.

29.

Blake, J. E. Hutchison, and P. S. Weiss, Journal of the American Chemical Society 128,
9266-9267 (2006).
Design, Operation, and Housing of an Ultrastable, Low Temperature, Ultrahigh Vacuum
Scanning Tunneling Microscope, J. H. Ferris, J. G. Kushmerick, J. A. Johnson, R. B.
Kessinger, H. F. Kingsbury, M. G. Yoshikawa Youngquist, and P. S. Weiss, Review of
Scientific Instruments 69, 2691-2695 (1998).
Imaging Substrate-Mediated Intermolecular Interactions, M. M. Kamna, S. J. Stranick,and P. S. Weiss, Science 274, 118-119 (1996).
30. Imaging Substrate-Mediated Interactions, M. M. Kamna, S. J. Stranick, and P. S. Weiss,
Israel Journal of Chemistry 36, 59-62 (1996).

69

“Polymer Science”(Lecture summary at Inauguration Ceremony of TU WPI-AIMR)
Toshio NISHI
Department of Organic and Polymeric Materials, Graduate School of Science andEngineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology
1. Introduction
As one of the Principal Investigators (PI) at the newly founded institute, WPI Advanced
Institute for Materials Research (AIMR) at Tohoku University, I in this report will describe
the current status and the future prospect of polymer science that would be very much related
to our research goal aimed during about five years in our project.
Recent demands for polymeric materials require them to be multi-functional and highperformance. Therefore, the development and research of polymer blends, alloys, andcomposite materials have become quite important since single polymeric materials can neversatisfy such broad requirements over multiple length scales. Polymeric nano-materials, 1)
including nano-alloys and nano-composites, are emerging as key elements to meet thesedemands. In case of nano-alloys, more than two different polymeric materials are used togenerate materials structured over multiple length scales by reactive processing techniques,for example. For nano-composites, the spatial arrangements of nano-scale particles, from 0th
to 3rd dimensions, are dispersed in polymeric materials, to realize much improved properties
or unexpectedly new functions. As structures get smaller and smaller, the surface to volume
ratio increases significantly and, as such, the interfacial behavior of materials become
increasingly important. Enabling nanotechnology, utilizing the remarkable advances ingenerating polymeric nano-materials in actual applications, as a consequence, requires aquantitative understanding of the interfacial behavior of materials. Gaining this understanding
will allow nanotechnology to markedly impact our lives.
The emergence of polymeric nano-materials has accelerated the development ofcharacterization tools with nanometer-level resolution. I, as one of group leaders, have beendeveloping for seven years unique tools to evaluate polymeric nano-materials for the Japanesenational project on “Nanostructured Polymer Project” by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, andIndustry (METI), New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)
and Japan Chemical Innovation Institute (JCII) that will last until the end of March, 2008.
The characterization of polymeric nano-materials encompasses three- dimensional (3D)
structural analysis, nano-scale physical properties evaluation, and nano-scale spectroscopy70

(material identification). 2) We have already been in strong position for the former two
technologies developed in the above-mentioned project. Thus, the original idea in my mind
was placing them into the core of our new project and further extension of the success of thisendeavor to the maximum extent in order to make them much more applicable to realistic
materials research. See Figure 1 for more detail.

Figure 1. The organization structure of WPI-AIMR polymer group
The first effort would be the development of physical property measurements, based on
the modification of an atomic force microscope (AFM). 3) We have developed
nano-mechanical mapping technique equipped with AFM (nano-mechanic AFM) where we
can reconstruct the true surface topography and Young’s modulus image of polymericmaterials with nanoscopic lateral resolution. 4-7) Dr. K. Nakajima is in charge of thisdevelopment and, therefore, he will continue his research among the WPI-AIMR framework.
Using the methods Nakajima has and will develop, new information on the physicalproperties of the interface of nano-composites, the dispersion of nano-particles in polymers
and the consequent effect on mechanical properties. The method has proven to be very
powerful in understanding the mechanism of reactive processing, since even 3D structural
information is not enough to answer questions about specific functions of polymericnano-materials. I will describe more detailed research subject in the following sections.
As for 3D structural analysis, polymer-oriented energy-filtered 3D transmission

71electron microscopy (3D-TEM) was first developed by Assoc. Prof. H. Jinnai at Kyoto
Institute of Technology. I will continue to keep a strong connection with him during thisproject. We have succeeded in analyzing micro-phase separated block copolymers, 8-10)
injection-molded plastic/thermoplastic polymer alloys, 11) carbon black/ silica filled
elastomers, 12) polymer clay nanocomposites, 13) and even metal nano-particles supported byporus polymer substrates useful for fuel cells. 14) Jinnai recently succeeded in creating adouble-helix morphology using self-assembling process of three-component terpolymers incollaboration with Prof. Dr. Volker Abetz at GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht GmbH
Institute of Polymer Research in Germany. The intriguing, yet complex, 3D morphology, thatcan only be imaged by 3D-TEM, may be utilized for various applications such as
high-precision separation membranes and nano-coil, shielding material for electromagnetic
waves. 3D-TEM revealed new and quantitative insights that could never have been obtainedby conventional TEM. In the WPI-AIMR project we propose to develop the “missing wedge”,
i.e., distortion-free perfect 3D-reconstruction by rod-shaped specimens. The combination of
3D-TEM, electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and cryogenic-techniques while in thedevelopment stage is already yielding some fascinating results and will be completed within
the research period. In addition, the development of four-dimensional (4D) microscopy, wheretime is the fourth dimension, will be developed and will be the key, in our opinion, in
harnessing and trapping non-equilibrium structures.
Nano-mechanic AFM and 3D-TEM have been the most successful results that haveemerged in the above-mentioned national project and have pioneered the field world-wide.
Within WPI-AIMR we want to expand these efforts to include multi-scale simulations of soft
materials, which can provide insights into the “holy grail” of materials science, namely
structure-property relationships where the structure spans from the nanoscopic to themicroscopic to the macroscopic size scales. “OCTA” is such a simulation tool, which is still
growing and spreading internationally. 15) The combination of the computer-simulation
technique with 3D imaging should open a new research field in which fundamental problems,
like the conformation of polymer chains confined within nanoscopic structures, can beaddressed using the advanced computational techniques.
In summary as in Figure 1, I will lead the materials evaluation group and the groupmust be composed of three main techniques, nano-mechanic AFM, 3D-TEM and multi-scale
simulation. To promote polymer nanotechnology, we need to collaborate with the polymer
fabrication group. I placed three PIs (Prof. Russel at University of Massachusetts, Prof.
Simomura, and Prof. Ajiri) and a joint research (Prof. Inoue at Yamagata University) together
with the list of collaborating companies into Figure 1 as research networks to bring ourpolymer nanotechnology as more realistic materials research tool. We have already talked
several times about the possible collaboration topics, including photovoltaics, fuel cells, water72

desalination and delivery systems for health related fields. These are the key areas of researchthat can have the most significant impact on a world-wide setting. Figure 2 shows thesummary of five-years roadmap of our group.

Figure 2. Five-years roadmap of Nishi PI’s group73

2. Nano-Palpation
The mainstay of polymer industry is composed of three articles, i.e., textile, rubber andplastic. It is no doubt for these articles to be of great importance among the whole industrial
circles. Polymeric materials have a lot of interesting electronic or optical characteristics, while
SPM techniques do not contribute to these properties much far beyond other characterization
tools at least at this moment. Instead, the advantage of SPM, AFM, has been properly
recognized when polymers as structural materials has to be investigated. Therefore, ouremphasis in this research will be placed on nano-mechanic AFM from the point of view ofmaterial scientists as shown in Figure 3. 16)

Figure 3. AFM roadmap for the characterization of polymeric nano-materials 16)

Nanotechnology is also on the upward trend in polymer industry. In fact, the structuresin nm-scale are exceedingly essential in treating polymeric structures and properties, forexample, amorphous polymers, the lamellar thickness of crystalline polymers, micro-phaseseparated structures of block or graft copolymers, crosslink point of rubbers, the interfacial
phases between polymer alloys, blends and composites (polymer ABC). Polymer
nano-composites, where the size of composite materials is in the range of nm-scale, have also
drawn much attention in the recent studies. These structures, as well as their molecular-level74

dynamics, are the control parameters in order to realize polymeric nano-materials. The social
demands to these materials at present and in the future can be widely spread; lightweight,
high-strength, highly-elastic materials, surface functional materials, thermoplastic elastomers,
fuel-efficient or wear-resistant tires, separation membranes, medical biomaterials, sensor
materials can hardly be realized by homogeneous materials. Thus, polymeric nano-materials,
which is essentially heterogeneous materials, have drawn much attention these days andfurthermore AFM has been recognized as a very powerful tool to perform structural analyses
on such materials.
However, researches to date have mainly focused on structural observations, or at mostqualitative characterization of mechanical properties. Quantitative analyses must be a key toexpand the marketing share, especially on the interfacial structures and mechanical properties
for heterogeneous constituents. Since many polymers are in glassy or fluid states except forsome specific conditions, and thus amorphous, any high-resolution imaging is not possible or
required in many cases, although such a technology has to be established in the future toincrease the AFM ability. In addition, different from other materials, the elastic moduli ofpolymers are extremely low, resulting easily in the deformation by nN or pN-level forces. One
might feel that this is a serious disadvantage, while we turn this disadvantage into anadvantage with developing characterization methodologies of sample elasticity in quantitative
ways (nano-palpation). Three items are important in this point; an adequate selection ofmathematical models to describe contact mechanics, a precise determination of cantilever
spring constant, and a sufficient estimation of probe tip shape. As for the latter two, there havebeen many different techniques developed in recent years. Especially, it was reported that the
tip shape must be treated as hyperboloid instead of simple spherical or conical shapes toperform better quantitative measure. 17) In any case, the most important factor is the former
item, i.e., the selection of mechanical models. Several models have been widely used for the
purpose such as Herzian, 18) or Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR) 19) theories. Furthermore, a
guiding principle have been established which models are the most appropriate, depending on
the degree of load, sample elasticity, and the existence of adhesive interactions. 20) Any new
design for non-classical model may be necessary in the future, however, which must be
preceded by checking the applicability of these classical models at least for a few years.
As easily understood, the AFM images for polymeric materials in many cases do not
represent real topographic features due to sample deformation neither in contact mode nor intapping mode. Even if quantitative analyses on surface elastic properties were successfully
made by the above-mentioned methods, the failure in obtaining real topography causes themisleading interpretation because both unreal apparent topographic and mechanical images
would contradict to each other. Recently, a method was developed where a sample
deformation image was obtained from force-distance curve anaysis and it was used to75

compensate an apparent topographic image into a real topographic image (nano-mechanic
AFM). 5) The method must urgently be applied to the study on nano-alloy and nano-composite
systems.
The formulation of tapping-mode operation increasingly becomes important inconjunction with the argument of energy dissipation. As recognized by many researchers, theproblem has arisen in the interpretation of phase images because phase shift should occur not
only in the case of viscous contribution but also in the existence of adhesive hysteresis. 21)
Since polymeric materials have elasticity and viscosity at the same time, in other words,
viscoelasticity by nature, the interpretation becomes more complicated. Thus, a certain
investigation is really required whether a sample viscosity is properly observed or not.
Polymers in general obey time-temperature superposition principle as the resultant effect ofviscoelasticity. Soft materials can behave as hard materials by temperature lowering or
frequency increase (shortening of characteristic time scale). 4) It has become possible topurchase a commercially available AFM instrument with superior temperature control, while
it is required to develop a novel instrument capable of wide-range frequency sweep to provide
complementary information. It is difficult to use cantilever resonant frequency for the purpose.
A certain breakthrough is inevitable. Figure 3 shows regions of temperature and frequency
required in the near future.
It is necessary to realize a single polymer chain experiment for the future prospect(nano-fishing). It is a dream in the field of polymer science to characterize and to precisely
control a single polymer chain for the purpose of achieving better macroscopic properties.
The acquisition of three-dimensionality in SPM imaging must be realized within ten years.
The observation of inclined cross-section can possibly be the first step toward the direction. 6)
In the following two sections. I will show recent progresses of two nano-palpation examples,
nano-mechanic AFM (§3) and nano-fishing (§4).
3. Nano-mechanic AFM
As discussed, AFM is widely used in the world as an imaging tool for elastic samples
like polymers and biomaterials. Contact and tapping mode operations are known as major
imaging modes. Samples are scanned over their surfaces with mechanical contact in bothmodes. Thus, it has been said that topographic images from both modes are affected bycontact or tapping forces. One could qualitatively understand the influence of a contact ortapping forces for the obtained topographic images in the past. However, Jiao et al. reported
recently that imaging setpoints of contact or tapping modes affected the obtained topographic
image of chromosome. They claimed that force mapping mode should be used whenever theheight or volume of soft samples are needed to be determined accurately. 22)
Now, the quantitative method, nano-mechanic AFM, to obtain accurate topographic

76

images of elastic samples together with Young's modulus distribution images will be
introduced. Especially, the emphasis may be placed on rubbery or melt states of polymericmaterials that are commonly difficult for AFM to deal with. The thin film of polymer blend
sample as a model system are investigated, which consists of polystyrene (PS) (Mn = 43,900,
Mw/Mn = 1.01) as a stiff material (3 GPa) and polyisobutyrene (PIB) (Mn = 200,000, Mw/Mn =2.50) as elastic one (3 MPa). Their glass-transition temperature, Tg, are 100°C and –76°C,
respectively. These polymers are immiscible at room temperature. Thus, this system issuitable for comparing influences of elasticity on topographic images because this blend
sample should have “sea-island” phase separating structure and they have very different
Young's modulus from each other. The procedure to rebuild a “real height image” from an
original “apparent height image” and a sample deformation image obtained fromforce-volume measurement will be also described.
The value of a cantilever spring constant is an important factor to detect mechanicalproperties from a sample surface. If the spring constant is very small, the cantileverapproaching to the surface cannot deform the sample. If the spring constant is very large,
instead, the cantilever can deform the sample, without any deflection. Therefore, necessary
information about the sample is lacking. Thus, it is necessary to choose a cantilever with anappropriate spring constant. As will be shown later in detail, in the PS/PIB blend sample, thecantilever used in this study can largely deform PIB rich island part, while PS rich matrix
hardly deforms. Although several calibration techniques have been established to date, 23-25) a
nominal value (0.58 N/m) is used for the spring constant in this study.
To obtain the mapping of the local mechanical properties of polymer blend,
force-volume measurement is performed. In this mode, force-distance curve data are recorded
until a given cantilever deflection value (trigger setpoint) is attained for 64 × 64 points overtwo-dimensional surface. At the same time, z-piezo displacement corresponding to the trigger
setpoint deflection is recorded to build a topographic image. The topographic image taken inthis mode is basically the same from that by conventional contact mode if contact force
setpoint and trigger setpoint are identical. If all the points over the surface are stiff enough,the set of recorded displacements represents the topographic feature (real height) for the
sample. However, if the surface deforms as shown in Figure 4(a), it is no more valid to regard
an obtained data as the real topographic information. It will be demonstrated that “real height
image” can be reconstructed even for such elastic samples if a curve fitting technique isemployed for the obtained force-distance curves.
There have been a variety of theoretical models to describe the mechanical contact
between the two bodies under external load and many of such theories have been used toanalyze force-distance curves as described. 19) Among them, Hertz theory 17) has been most77where D is the half-angle of the conical tip (35°). Here the Poisson's ratio, Q, is fixed at 0.5 forsimplification.
Figure 5 shows the height image of a
PS/PIB blend thin film on a glass substrate intapping mode. The scan size is 10 µm.
PIB-rich island structures are spread over a
PS-rich matrix. These islands sometimes
appear as depressions, while some protrusiveislands are also observed. The height image
obtained by a force volume measurement on
the same sample is shown in Figure 6. 5)
Trigger setpoint (maximum limit of cantileverdeflection) is 150 nm. Contrary to the tappingheight image, all of the PIB rich phases areobserved as depressions. For each 64 × 64
pixels,aforce-distance
curve
was
incorporated. Guided by the idea shown in
Figure 4(b) and Eq. (2), it is possible to plot a

Figure 5 The height image of a PS/PIB
blend thin film on a glass substrate intapping mode.

Figure 6 The result of a force volume measurement on the same sample. (a) The
force volume (apparent) height image, (b) the sample deformation image, (c) thereconstructed real height image and (d) the Young's modulus distribution image. 5)79sample deformation image as shown in Figure 6(b).
Then, the reconstruction of the “real height image” is performed by adding the force
volume “apparent height” and the sample deformation images. The result is given in Figure6(c). At a glance, this reconstructed image at least qualitatively resembled to the tappingheight image in Figure 5. There are protrusions together with depressions. In short, obtained
force volume height image is an artifact caused by the very small elastic modulus of PIB-richphase. In contrast to the fact that many of depressions became shallower, it was also foundthat there existed two “real” deep depressions of which depth was unchanged by thereconstruction procedure (upper-right and lower-middle islands). Such depressions have a
depth of around 200 nm where the sample deformation is almost zero. They are thus
attributed to the bare glass substrate due to the film thickness.
Next, the Young's modulus is calculated by the curve fitting of a set of force-distancecurves. The experimental data are fairly fitted to Eq. (3) for PIB-rich phase. Because thestiffness of PS-rich phase is sufficiently large, the part cannot be deformed like PIB-rich one
for the cantilever used here (k = 0.58 N/m). Then, the curve fitting to Hertz model always fails.
Therefore, such parts are automatically excluded by judging a mean square-root error. The
mapping of the Young's modulus distribution is shown in Figure 6(d). Non-calculated parts
are painted by the white color. The depressions where bare glass substrate appeared are hard
as expected, while their surroundings are somewhat softer. In the upper part of the image, a
region between the two protrusions seems to be soft, while such information is hardly
obtained from Figure 6(a). Thus, it must be claimed that Young's modulus images should becompared with the “real height” images if one want to make a clear correlation in-between.
We have already extended the above-mentioned technique to several polymeric systems
such as elongated elastomers, 26,27) carbon black reinforced natural rubber, 28,29) carbon
nanotube reinforced natural rubber (in collaboration with Nissin Kogyo, Co.), nano-alloy ofnylon and a certain kind of rubber produced by twin-screw extruder with L/D = 100 (incollaboration with Prof. Inoue and Toray, Co.). One of the best examples would be theapplication of this technique to human hair cross-section (in collaboration with Hoyu, Co.). 30)
The hair has a complicated hierarchical structure which is composed of hydrophobic
and hydrophilic components. It is important to understand mechanical properties of eachcomponent in micro level in order to understand a texture of hair in macro level and develop
hair care products. Nano-mechanic AFM using stiff cantilevers in order to deform a sample by
AFM enable us to evaluate Young’s modulus and a fine structure simultaneously at the same
point. In this study, we applied this method to hair cross section in order to evaluate thedegree of hair damage.
The Yong’s modulus mapping images of hair cross section are shown in Figure 7. As
for the damage hair (B), the Young’s modulus at the whole area was lower than virgin hair (A)80and intermacrofibrilar matrix among the macrofibrils was weakening site specifically. We
found that the Young’s modulus was improved when the damage hair was treated by
L-teanine solution (C) and especially Young’s modulus of macrofibril was recovered. In thisway, this method is very useful to appraise the effectiveness of hair care components.
(A)

(B)

(C)

(C)

(b)
(a)

(a)

(b)

(b)

(a)

1Pm

1Pm

1Pm
1Pm

Figure 7. Young’s modulus mappings of hair cross section in water. (A) Virgin hair(B) damaged hair and (C) damaged hair treated with 2% L-teanine aqueous solution.
(a) macrofibril and (b)macrofibrilar matrix

4. Nano-fishing
Nnano-fishing enables us to stretch a single polymer chain using force-spectroscopymode of AFM. We can say that nano-fishing is the second and ultimate nano-palpation
technique for polymeric materials. A stress-strain curve obtained for a polystyrene (PS)polymer chain with thiol termini in T solvent showed a good agreement with a worm-likechain model, and thus gave microscopic information about entropic elasticity. The
information obtained by this measurement does not give any energy dissipative interaction
between polymer chains and liquid medium, while dynamic measurement reveals suchinformation. A sinusoidal excitation was exerted mechanically on a cantilever in liquidcondition to investigate single polymer chain viscosity, which is mainly attributed tomonomer-solvent friction. We could conclude that the method was a powerful tool to reveal abasic concept in polymer physics.
4.1 Static Nanofishing
AFM has enabled us to visualize a small world consisting of atoms and molecules. The
visualization of individual single polymer chains has been also already reported. 31)
Furthermore, dozens of researchers have placed their attention on the expanded capability of
AFM as force spectroscopy. With this technology, the relationship between force anddeformation of a single molecule sandwiched has been measured. Our “nano-fishing” comesunder this category. We have obtained a novel method for experimentally verifying the81

statistical mechanics of a single polymer chain, which is indeed the basis of polymer physics.
As in the case of strain-stress curves of rubber, we can now investigate such curves for single
polymer chains like the conceptual experiment appeared in the textbook by Prof. P. G. de
Gennes. 32) However, these trials have been especially dedicated to studies of “single protein
unfolding” events, physisorbed macromolecules. From a comparison of such cases,
synthesized polymers have many disadvantages. For instance, it is difficult to attach any
reactive groups at their ends in general. Thus, the force-distance curve data obtained in
uncontrolled experiments contain many complicated factors such as that the adsorptions occur
not only at the tails but also at the loops. As described, however, successful nanofishing
results on PS chains with chemically active termini were obtained and thus several statisticalanalyses could be conducted. 33)
An SH-terminated PS wasused as a sample. It was based on alivingpolymerized
COOHterminated PS with Mn = 93,800
and MW = 100,400. Its contour
length was about 220 nm. The thiolgroups were substituted for the
COOH
ends
using
1,10decanedithiol by means of
thiolester bonding, anticipating thepreferential interaction between
Figure 8. Static nanofishing of a single PS chain
thiol and gold. The polymer wasin cyclohexane. The solvent temperature wasdissolved in T solvent, cyclohexane
about 35°C. WLC (solid black line), FJC (solid
and the solution was cast on agrey line) and mFJC (dashed line) models were
Au(111) substrate. So as to pick up
used to obtain fitting curves.
the SH-modified terminal, agold-coated cantilever was used. The nominal value of its spring constant k1 was 30 pN/nm. A
typical force-extension curve measured in cyclohexane is shown in Figure 8. 33) The solvent
temperature was kept at about 35°C, which corresponded to its Ttemperature for PS chains.
The initial slope was observed which should be attributed to single polymer chain elasticity
caused by entropic contribution. As for further analysis, curve fitting against the worm-likechain (WLC) model was conducted:

F x

k B T ªx 1 º
1
«

 »
2
L 4 »lP «
¬4 1 x /L
¼

(4)

where x is the extension length at an external load of F. lp and L are persistence and contour

82

lengths, respectively. The fitting results were lp = 0.24 ± 0.01 nm and L = 244.9 ± 0.6 nm. The
persistence length almost corresponded to the length of a single monomer. We also checked
the validity of other models such as freely jointed (FJC), modified FJC models. Thus,
nanofishing could be used to judge the ever-present basic theories of polymer physics. Further
examinations by changing solvent temperature proved to be useful in order to reveal statisticalmechanical properties such as the second virial coefficient on a single polymer chain basis.
33,34)The results were explained well by Flory’s lattice model, at least as the first
approximation.
4.2 Dynamic Nanofishing
Static nanofishing merely gives static information about polymer chains. Therefore,viscoelasticity, which is a quite important property of polymers, seldom appears. Here, we
describe the technique of revealing monomer- solvent friction for a single polymer chain.
35,36)The experimental setup was almost the same as that for the static measurement, while thecantilever was now vibrated at its resonant frequency (f1 = Z1/2S = 9.0 kHz). The oscillation
amplitude was A = 6.0 nm when free oscillation was reached. In the case of successful
nano-fishing, the amplitude decreased as in the case of the tapping-mode operation. The phaseshift between input and output signals also deviated from 90°. The change in boundary
condition by polymer chain attachment caused a change in the free oscillation of thecantilever.
To obtain information about the mechanical properties of a single polymer chain, we
analyzed the separation-dependent amplitude and phase shift changes based on thephenomenological double Voigt model. Although detailed calculation is omitted, effective
spring constant of a single polymer chain, k2, and frictional coefficient, K2, could be
calculated as follows:
k2

K2

A1
(mZ12  k1)cos\  K1Z1sin\` (mZ12  k1 )^A
A1
K1Z1 cos\  (mZ12  k1 )sin\` K1
^
AZ1

(5)
(6)

where A1 is the oscillation amplitude without the polymer chain and \ is the difference inphase shift with and without the polymer chain. m is effective mass of cantilever and K2 isfrictional coefficient measured without polymer chain. Figure 9 shows the obtained result.
The stiffness of a single chain k2 increased abruptly with stretching. This is commonly
observed in conventional simple stretching experiments on polymers, as in Figure 8, i.e., analmost constant value for spring constant at low extension and an apparent increase due to thefully stretched effect caused not only by entropic contribution but also by enthalpic
contribution. A new result, only available by dynamic nanofishing for the frictional coefficient,83which might be related to viscosity, wasobtained. At first glance, almost zeroviscosity was observed in the low
extension region. However, viscosity hada certain value in this region. The
viscosity K2 in the region (30-150 nm)
averaged 2.62 × 10-9 kg/s. Note that thisFigure 9. The behavior of (a) chain stiffness,
k2 and (b) viscosity of the chain, K2 against
the extension. The values were calculated bya double Voigt model.

K2

value is the first estimation of viscosity ona single polymer chain basis in a low
extension region. We also found aninteresting phenomenon in that viscosity
also increased in the same manner as in k2.
This means that the experimental
observation does not support free-draining
model which was submitted to explain
polymer-solvent friction in the past, 37)
because the increase in viscosity in thehigher extension region was never
explained by this simple additivity.
The increase might be related to anincrease in the number of constituent
molecules exposed to solvent friction.
During the stretching event on
simultaneous two polymer chains,measured viscosity showed a
stepwise change as shown in Figure
10, that also support our idea.

5. Polymer Megatechnology
Figure 10. Quantized frictional coefficient during
This is my personal opinion
stretching two polymer chains at the same time.
that nanotechnology, which has no
example application for our daily-life size-scale, is barren technology. We do not forget about
the comment made by Prof. Whitehouse, The University of Warwick, UK, who is one of thefounders of nanotechnology: “You cannot drive a nano-car on the road.” I dare say “You candrive a super car based on nanotechnology.” All of the materials developed in “Nanostrucured
Polymer Project” are not nano-materials merely for nano-scale world but much realistic
nano-materials. For example, non-viscoelastic alloy (NOVA), fabricated by Prof. Inoue,

84

Yamagata University, is one of the best candidates for future big market. Several newspapers
had reported the material as “hard but soft plastic at the same time,” “plastic with large
deformation like rubbers by impact.” The key of the material’s specific feature is caused bynano-scale dispersion technique. Along this context, seismic isolators, that I am very much
involved in its ISO standardization, would be an ultimate technology. One might think seismic
isolators have nothing to do with nanotechnology, while its durability, dumping capability andadhesion condition between steel and rubber plates are the serious concern of nanotechnology
after all. I call this technology as “megatechnology” because the maximum load that a single
seismic isolator withstands reaches thousands tons, namely, 25 MN. A single polymer chain
has pN-level elasticity. Then, this is very surprising thing that layer-built rubbery materials
can endure MN loads. It is my dream to open a new era by bridging between nano and mega.
More than thirty years ago, I published my own work done in Bell Laboratory, Murray
Hill, N.J., in the famous journal, Macromolecules. The title was “Melting-Point Depression
and Kinetic Effect of Cooling on Crystallization in Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-Poly(methyl
methacrylate) Mixtures.” The editorial office of Macromolecules recently announced the 10
most cited papers as one of its 40-years anniversary events and my paper was nominated as
5th one. The paper is the basis of impact resistant plastic bumbers used almost all cars in theworld. I am very happy to announce this news to all of you involved in WPI-AIMR andwould like to encourage you. Every thing necessary for your research has been already inyour hand. Indeed, my paper is merely based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).
What is necessary would be your own dream and bravery.
Acknowledgment
Nano-mechanic AFM is one of the main fruits obtained by “Nanostructured Polymer
Project” by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), New Energy and Industrial
Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and Japan Chemical Innovation Institute(JCII). Dr. Nakajima have developed nano-fishing techniques partially supported by aGrant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A) (#18685028) from the Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology.
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24) J. P. Cleveland, S. Manne, D. Bocek, P. K. Hansma, Rev.Sci.Instrum., 64, 403 (1993).
25) T. Wang, A. Ikai, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 38, 3912 (1999).
26) H. Watabe, M. Komura, K. Nakajima, T. Nishi: Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 44, 5393 (2005).
27) K. Nakajima, H. Watabe, N. Ono, S. Nagayama, K. Watanabe, T. Nishi: J. Soc. RubberInd., Jpn. (in Japanese), 79, 466 (2006).
28) H. Nukaga, S. Fujinami, H. Watabe, K. Nakajima, T. Nishi: J. Soc. Rubber Ind., Jpn., (inJapanese), 79, 509 (2006).
29) T. Nishi, H. Nukaga, S. Fujinami, K. Nakajima: Chinese J. Polym. Sci., 25, 35 (2007).
30) H. Kitano, M. Niwa, S. Fujinami, K. Nakajima, T. Nishi, S. Naito: J. Soc. Cosmet. Chem.
Jpn. (in Japanese)㧘30, 135 (2006).
31) J. Kumaki, Y. Nishikawa, T. Hashimoto: Am. Chem. Soc., 118, 3321 (1996).

8632) P. G. de Gennes: “Scaling Concepts in Polymer Physics” Cornell University Press, New
York, (1979).
33) K. Nakajima, H. Watabe, T. Nishi: Polymer, 47, 2505 (2006).
34) K. Nakajima, H. Watabe, T. Nishi: Kautsch. Gummi Kunstst., 5-06, 256 (2006).
35) H. Watabe, K. Nakajima, Y. Sakai, T. Nishi: Macromolecules, 39, 5921 (2006).
36) K. Nakajima, T. Nishi: Chem. Rec., 6, 249 (2006).
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38) T. Nishi, T. T. Wang: Macromolecules, 8, 909 (1975).

87

WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research
Recruitment of Researchers
Outline of WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research:
The proposal on the WPI research center for Advances Institute for Materials Research(WPI-AIMR) of Tohoku University was accepted by MEXT as one of the top 5 WPI research
centers. Based on this proposal, Tohoku University established WPI Advance Institute forMaterials Research on October 1, 2007.
The main objective of the Center is to promote the development of new materials under aworld-leading organization for interdisciplinary research in functional materials, by use of an
innovative method of atom and molecular control, departing from the typical approaches andmoving towards the next generation. The center will pursue (1) the creation of newcompounds and materials with innovative functions which exceed existing ones, (2) the
construction of devices based on a new fundamental paradigm, and (3) the promotion of
applied research projects on materials and system architecture that will generate direct social
impacts (http://www.wpi-aimr.tohoku.ac.jp/en/index.html).

Number of positions:
More than 10 people for each position will be hired at the rank of Associate Professor,
Assistant Professor, and Postdoctoral Research Fellow.

Starting date: as soon as possible
Employment conditions:(1) Salary:
Associate and Assistant Professor: an annual income system is employed according to the ruleof
Tohoku University
Postdoctoral research fellow: competitive in a range of 4500000 and 6000000 yen.
(2) Research fund:
Cooperative research together with PI who manages the research fund is recommended, but
independent research proposals for associate and assistant Professors are also encouraged.
(3) Tenure:
Associate and Assistant Professor: in principle 5 years term but every 2 years there is review
process.
Postdoctoral research fellow: one year, but renewal is possible through review.

Documents for application:(1) complete CV(2) Publication list, including citation data
(3) Outline of past research accomplishments, and research proposal to be performed at WPIThe files of the above documents (pdf) should be sent to the following E-mail address;
wpi-office@bureau.tohoku.ac.jp, or the print-out documents should be sent via regular mail tothe following address; WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University,
980-8577 Katahira 2-1-1, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan

Deadline for applications: The deadline for first round recruitment is the end of January
2008..

88

(Physics Today Advertisement)

Junior Faculty/Post-doctoral Positions
Tohoku University
WPI-AIMR
Effective October 1, 2007, Tohoku University created a new Research Institute, the Advanced
Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), based on an initiative of the Japanese Departmentof Education (MEXT) for World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) to
bring together scientists involved in research on nano-science and technology.
In the 21st century, material science, broadly defined as the study of how complex/novel
properties arise in matters/materials from the interactions of individual components, willcomprise of inter-discipline collaboration.
(HTTP://WWW.WPI-AIMR.TOHOKU.AC.JP).
Over the next few years, as many as one hundred new appointments at the levels of
post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty will be available. All innovative researchers arewelcome as active promoters of basic/applied sciences in the fields of physical metallurgy,
physics, chemistry, precision mechanical engineering and electronic / informational
engineering..
We are particularly interested in applications for assistant professor positions (tenure track),
but will consider exceptional candidates for other positions as well.
Applications are due by January 31, 2008.
Please submit
1) a curriculum vitae,
2) research proposal (<3,000 words),
3) summary of previous research accomplishments (<2,000 words),
4) copies of 5 significant publications, and
5) 2 letters of recommendationby email to sakurai@imr.tohoku.ac.jp, and wpi-office@bureau.tohoku.ac.jp.
All files must be submitted electronically in pdf or Word format.
Applications from, or nominations of, women and minority candidates are encouraged.
Tohoku University WPI-AIMR is an affirmative action / equal opportunity employer

89Graduate Student scholarship
In Materials Science/Engineering
WPI-AIMR
Graduate Student scholarship
Effective October 1, 2007, Tohoku University created a new Research Institute, the Advanced
Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), based on an initiative of the Japanese Departmentof Education (MEXT) for World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) to
bring together scientists involved in research on nano-science and technology.
In the 21st century, material science, broadly defined as the study of how complex/novel
properties arise in matters/materials from the interactions of individual components, will
becomes an essential and most important research topics(HTTP://WWW.WPI-AIMR.TOHOKU.AC.JP).
TU WPI-AIMR is now looking for young motivated Ph.D. graduate student candidates in thefields of physical metallurgy, physics, chemistry, mechanical engineering and electronic /informational technology. All innovative M. S. students are welcome as active promoters ofbasic/applied sciences in these fields.
Applications are continuously screened throughout the year.
Please submit
1) a curriculum vitae,
2) research proposal (<1,000 words),
3) 2 letters of recommendation,by email toyoshi@mail.tains.tohoku.ac.jp,
sakurai@imr.tohoku.ac.jp, andwpi-office@bureau.tohoku.ac.jp.
All files must be submitted electronically in pdf or Word format.

90

WPI-AIMR
Workshop Guideline
Tohoku University’s new Research Institute, the Advanced Institute for Materials Research(WPI-AIMR) solicits several applications per year for International Workshops in the field of“broadly defined Materials Science.”
Guidelines:
1) Organizers
Qualified research staff of academic institutions and public or private research establishments
can submit the application for an international workshop to be held at WPI-AIMR or its
Satellite branches, jointly with the WPI-AIMR principal investigator(s) whose researchinterest overlaps with the scope of the workshop..
2) Financial support
Under normal circumstances, WPI-IMR supports up to 2/3 of the workshop budget, while theorganizer is expected to cover the rest.
3) deadline
The application must be received at least four months in advancetoyoshi@mail.tains.tohoku.ac.jp,
sakurai@imr.tohoku.ac.jp, andwpi-office@bureau.tohoku.ac.jp.
All files must be submitted electronically in pdf or Word format.

91

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World Premier International Research Center
Advanced Institute for Materials Research
Tohoku UniversityƔ
2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577
Japan
Phone: +81-22-217-5922
FAX: +81-22-217-5129

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