FACULTY RESEARCH ACTIVITY 2014

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36Materials and Chemical EngineeringYasushi MurakamiProfessorBreaking new ground in materials, processes, and systems with the ultimate goal of energy self-sufficiencyDivision of Chemistry and MaterialsThe optical materials and inorganic nanofiber materials that my lab has developed are unique in the world, and they are actually being used. My current focus is energy self-sufficiency. If biomass could be dried without applying too much energy, it would be possible to utilize marine resources as well, and if electricity could be generated efficiently from heat, we would be able to convert the long wavelength range of sunlight into electricity.Professor Murakami joined the Faculty of Textile Science and Technology at Shinshu University in 1993 and took his current position in 2007. He spent ve years working as the lead researcher for the knowledge cluster creation project starting in 2007, during which time he spearheaded advanced collaboration between industry and academia. His area of research is material chemistry.A project develops into major research when a new and unprecedented vision is proposed. My hope for my students is that they will grow into researchers who can propose such visions.Outlook for researchIn the development of new materials, failure is more common than success. My goal is to foster the development of tough and resilient researchers.Outlook for students after graduationWe select only research that is truly necessary to solve society’s problems and strive to break new ground with our work.Titanium oxide nanober used as a photo catalystA highly active and long-life platinum/silica fuel cell catalystMaterials and Chemical EngineeringHisanao UsamiProfessorCreating a man-made system to emulate photosynthesis by layering pigment molecules and semiconductor layers at nanometer-level precisionDivision of Chemistry and MaterialsI am developing a system that imitates photosynthesis by layering light-absorbing pigments with electrically conductive semiconductor layers at nanometer-level precision and then examining the resulting photochemical reactions. My lab is searching for the ideal combination of photochemical reactions and electrical conductivity to develop not only a highly efficient reaction field, but also a general method for creating nano-scale composite materials.Professor Usami took his current position in 2012 after serving at Shinshu University as an assistant professor and associate professor. His areas of research are photochemistry, surface chemistry, and photo catalytic reactors.Examples nearing practical application include the use of photo-catalytic reactors for synthetic chemistry, purication of wastewater, and nutrient-medium purication in plant factories. We are working toward a highly ecient photochemical reaction system that imitates photosynthesis by working at the intersection of photochemistry, biology, and physics.Outlook for researchGraduates go on to work at chemical, electrical, and machine manufacturers. I am careful to develop an environment that encourages students to boldly tackle topics that lie at the borders between domains.Outlook for students after graduationHere a student creates pigment and semiconductor single-molecule membranes in a clean booth. This is a moment of nervous tension since the membrane must be created from painstakingly prepared pigments while wearing clean clothing.A student participates in an experiment to evaluate the activity of a photo-catalytic reactor that we built using ideas from students.A micrograph of diatoms collected from Ueda’s water purication plant

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