Shindai Crystal®
- Feature Research Projects -

  1. Shindai Crystal - Feature Research Projects -

Shinshu University's signature research Shindai Crystal® produces cutting-edge materials created using the flux method, a technique for growing inorganic crystals. Shindai Crystal® and related materials create innovative products used for various applications, such as water purification devices, biocompatible devices and lithium-ion batteries.

What is Shindai Crystal?

Shindai Crystal is a high-quality crystal created by Shinshu University's inorganic crystal growth technology: Flux Method. "Shindai" is an abbreviation of Shinshu Daigaku (University) in Japanese. The method grows single crystals at a temperature much lower than the melting point of the substance. Shinshu University has developed a variety of flux method recipes for controlling the shape of crystals, making high-performance and high-quality crystals manufacturing possible.

Shinshu University leads the world in the flux crystal growth method. The flux method is a process of growing inorganic single crystals. To grow crystals, the ingredients need to be liquified or vaporized in order to rearrange the structure of atoms. For example, when turning salt into a liquid, salt needs to be heated to a melting point of about 800 ° C. The heating process can be skipped if it is dissolved in water. It can be turned into liquid at room temperature. In this manner, the flux method is a technique for producing high-quality crystals at a temperature lower than the melting point by using a solid solvent (flux).

The flux crystal growth method

Shindai Crystal is a high-quality crystal created by Shinshu University's inorganic crystal growth technology:Flux Method. "Shindai" is an abbreviation of Shinshu Daigaku (University) in Japanese. The method grows single crystals at a temperature much lower than the melting point of the substance.

What is the Flux Method?

Shinshu University leads the world in the flux crystal growth method. The flux method is a process of growing inorganic single crystals. To grow crystals, the ingredients need to be liquified or vaporized in order to rearrange the structure of atoms. For example, when turning salt into a liquid, salt needs to be heated to a melting point of about 800 ° C. The heating process can be skipped if it is dissolved in water. It can be turned into liquid at room temperature. In this manner, the flux method is a technique for producing high-quality crystals at a temperature lower than the melting point by using a solid solvent (flux).

The flux method's Process

Process 1: The raw materials and solvent (flux) are mixed together and heated, creating a liquid mixture.
Process 2: The crystal grows during the cooling process when the flux evaporates and the solubility of the raw material crystal changes in the solution.

Shinshu University has developed a variety of flux method recipes for controlling the shape of crystals, making high-performance and high-quality crystals manufacturing possible.

Regional Innovation Ecosystem Funded By MEXT

The "Shinshu Regional Innovation Ecosystem through Industrial Implementation of Innovative Inorganic Crystal Materials" was selected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Shinshu University's innovative inorganic crystal materials which were created using the flux method, a technology for growing inorganic crystals, were developed to create innovative products and systems for use in a variety of fields, including water purification devices, biocompatible devices, and lithium-ion batteries. The project is scheduled to run from August 2017 to March 2022.