Research
Creation of "Shindai Crystals" that Provide Sustainable Water, Environment, and Energy to the World
Our research unit's world-leading technology, the "flux method" and its applied technologies can create high-quality, high-performance inorganic crystalline materials in an environmentally friendly manner. We named the functional crystals grown using our unique flux method and its applied technology, the "Shindai Crystals". By designing and utilizing various crystalline materials and inorganic materials as well as with their composites, we provide solutions to water, environmental, and energy problems.
About research
Growing the one and only crystalline materials the world desires
We utilize the flux method, a promising crystal growth technique, while also investigating novel crystal growth techniques based on this technology to create the one and only crystalline materials desired in the world. The flux method is a crystal growth process that truly learns from the mechanisms found in nature. In our laboratory, in consideration of the global environment, we grow various unique crystalline materials using the environmentally friendly flux method and its derivatives and apply them to technologies and products that contribute to solving water, environmental, and energy problems.
Especially, "water" is the origin of all things and is the source of life. Humanity has been protected by "water." Now, as numerous planetary boundaries are becoming transgressed, the wisdom of our creative activities is being tested. We will propose the answer through our research on Shindai Crystals.
Fusion of Shindai Crystal with Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
To further develop and expand applications of Shindai Crystals, we are powerfully promoting the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics. Until now, material development has been a world of craftsmanship, basically relying on the experience and intuition of individual researchers. By integrating artificial intelligence and robotics, we aim to realize a “Robo Lab.”, where the entire process is fully automated, including not only material preparation, analysis, and post-processing, but also device development and systemization. A total of approximately 100 single-arm and dual-arm robots are in operation in the new "Robo Lab." established inside the Aqua-Regeneration Co-Creation Research Center. Furthermore, they are controlled by an artificial intelligence system we are currently developing called the "Flux Crystal Creation App". This system dramatically increases the speed and efficiency of experiments. Finding useful combinations from an almost infinite number of elements has traditionally required enormous amounts of time, but we expect this time to be significantly shortened though the help of “Robo Lab.”. In addition, we also hope to realize the creation of new materials and new devices. We promise that this integrated system will pave the way for opening up crystal growth of a new era, the “flux method”.
Our Philosophy and Developing Targets
Our Philosophy
With Jules Verne's words "Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real." in mind, we will apply our crystal growth technology to provide solutions that bring smiles to people around the world.
Developing Targets
・Super-functionalized ion-exchange crystals
Basic science: Ion exchange dynamics
Applications: Water purification and environmental cleanup, rare resource recovery, etc.
・Energy device crystals
Basic science: Ion and electronic conductivity control
Applications: Next-generation storage batteries, solar hydrogen production, etc.
・Function-controlled crystals
Basic science: Crystal chemistry
Applications: Semiconductor devices, biomaterials, etc.
Affiliated researchers
-
Director of the Institute for Aqua Regeneration
Principal Investigator
Special Assistant of the President of Shinshu UniversityKatsuya TESHIMADistinguished Professor
-
Takeshi HAGIOProfessor
-
Fumitaka HAYASHIAssociate Professor
-
Tetsuya YAMADAAssociate Professor
-
Norifumi ISUProject Professor
-
Kunio YUBUTAProgram-Specific Professor
-
Chayanaphat CHOKRADJAROENProgram-Specific Associate Professor
-
Mongkol TIPPLOOKProject Assistant Professor
