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� Towards Smart Utilization of Combustion Energy
"Reactive Gas Dynamics" is a study field of gas dynamics that deals with reactive flows, such as combustion.  Combustion phenomena are studied in our Reactive Gas Dynamics Laboratory.  Huge amount of energy is utilized by combustion of fuel in the world.  And the demand for energy is still growing.  It is very important to understand combustion properties of fuels for the global warming and energy issue. Combustion properties of fuel affect the performance of combustors, such as engines.  We investigate the fundamental and practical aspects of combustion properties and techniques by experiments using an apparatus unique in the world and numerical simulation towards the smart utilization of combustion energy.  Our interests include not only conventional fuels but also alternative and next-generation fuels such as carbon neutral biomass, coal gasification gas and hydrogen.  Our studies contribute to the developments of automobile engines, electric power plants and combustors in industries.
Faculty of Engineering
Advanced Hydrogen Materials Laboratory
� Influence of High Pressure Hydrogen Gas on
Rubber and Polymeric Materials.
Rubber and polymeric materials are used as sealing devices of high-pressure hydrogen gas in equipment for hydrogen energy systems. For example, rubber O-rings for hydrogen gas sealing can be broken by high- pressure hydrogen exposure, as Blister Fracture shown in the figure below. In our laboratory, we are going to clarify the fracture phenomenon of rubber and polymeric materials 0.5mm EPDM(Hs70): H,×35MPa×100°C×15hrs. exposed to high-pressure hydrogen gas. In order to clarify the influence Overflow Fracture of dissolved hydrogen on the fracture behavior of the materials, we have been performing thermal desorption analyses and nuclear magnetic resonance measurements EPDN(Hs70):  H 2×35MPa×100'C×15hrs of the dissolved hydrogen gas in the Buckling Fracture materials. To establish material design guidelines for high-pressure hydrogen sealing materials, we are continuously discussing the relationship between 10 me fracture behavior of the materials EPDN(Hs70): H 2×70NPa×100°C×3hrs. and their composition or molecular Three fracture modes of rubber O -ring after repeating structure. high-pressure hydrogen gas exposure Graduate School of Engineering Advanced Hydrogen Energy System Lab (Professor)
� Fuel Cell Research for Vehicles
In our laboratory, fuel cells and related technologies for FCVs are focused on. We have been particularly working on novel electrocatalysts, which play a most important role for fuel cell performance, with following approaches. • Encapsulation of Pt into nano-channels to suppress Pt aggregation, leading to high activity and durability • Graphitization of carbon surface, leading to increased tolerance to carbon oxidation · Investigation of electrode degradation at higher temperature operation · Investigation of degradation mechanism by In-situ SEM/ TEM International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (FONER) Electrochemical Energy Conversion Research Division
� Hydrogen production and energy conversion
via electrochemistry
Electrochemistry plays an important roles for conversion between electric and chemical energies, e.g. fuel cells and electrolysis. Research on solid state ion conductors have been conducted. Namely, proton-conducting oxides that operate at 400 ~ 800 ℃ and metal oxide nanoparticles which conducts protons on the surface are studied for the fundamental understanding as well as for technological applications. Water/steam electrolysis is one of the major topics from a view point of utilizing renewable energies.