Energy Nanomaterials Science Group (ONOE Laboratory)
Department of Energy Science and Engineering
Nagoya University

Molecular thin films are prepared by vacuum deposition, and structural changes can be investigated using in situ FT-IR spectroscopy. Phonon properties can also be investigated at extremely low temperatures. In addition, total reflection spectroscopy can be used to investigate the structure of nanospace materials in solution under atmospheric conditions, and molecular orientation in thin films can be investigated by incident angle resolution (MAIRS).

We can fabricate organic solar cells and organic thermoelectric devices under UHV conditions, and investigate their characteristics and mechanisms of electronic conduction, and thermoelectric properties.

After formation of a molecular layer on a solid surface under UHV conditions, we investigate the surface structure and surface electronic states in combination with first-principles calculations (Gaussian, CASTEP, VASP, etc.).

We investigate the energy conversion characteristics of organic solar cells fabricated in a UHV chamber.

We investigate the electronic state (electronic transition from the ground state to the excited state) of thin films prepared in a UHV chamber.

Thin films can be formed on a substrate from colloidal solutions of nanospace materials (Prussian blue and its analogues). By changing the colloid concentration and rotation speed, the film thickness can be controlled at nanometer scale.

Annealing treatment (moisture removal) of thin films produced by the spin coater.

Plasma can be used to remove organic contaminants adhering to the substrate surface and modify it to a hydrophilic surface.

By applying a centrifugal force of up to 200,000 G (G: gravity), it is possible to isolate nanotubes up to a single nanotube.

We analyze experimental results using first-principles calculations (Gaussian, CASTEP, VASP, DV-ME, etc.) and perform functional design of materials by computer experiments.We recently employ machine-learning to explore a higher performance of energy-harvesting materials effectively.

It is possible to control the redox states of materials dissolved in solutions and thin films.

In 2022, a new photocatalyst research room was launched. By converting light energy directly into chemical energy (oxidation-reduction reaction), we solve environmental and energy issues through research of hydrogen generation and CO2 reduction.