ナノ物理・デバイス

Innovative Devices

Mastering physics and developing innovative devices for the next generation

With the advent of the IoT and artificial intelligence society, the power consumption required for information processing is increasing exponentially. In order to realize a sustainable society, we are challenging to create cutting-edge devices that support the next generation by making full use of the latest knowledge in solid state physics, quantum mechanics, materials science, and statistical mechanics.

What is Innovative Devices?

The semiconductor integrated circuits that power all kinds of electronic devices are supported by extremely fine transistor elements made of silicon. As many as one billion transistors are already used in each smartphone, and the number of transistors required to support the IoT and artificial intelligence, which are expected to become fundamental technologies for the future of society, continues to increase. The number of transistors required to support the IoT and artificial intelligence, which are expected to be fundamental technologies for the future society, continues to increase. As a result, the power consumption required for such information processing is also increasing exponentially year by year, and is expected to reach 20% of the total power generation in Japan by 2025.

In order to realize a sustainable and clean society, we continue to take on the challenge of creating innovative devices for the next generation by making full use of the latest knowledge in solid state physics, quantum mechanics, materials science, and statistical mechanics. We are working on ultra-high performance transistors with new structures using new materials, neuromorphic computing that mimics the human brain using the fundamental laws of natural science, artificial intelligence devices/spintronics devices based on pure spin currents and spin waves that do not consume power in principle using relativistic quantum mechanics, and biocompatible devices using organic semiconductors. We aim to realize innovative technologies that are not extensions of conventional technologies, such as biocompatible wearable devices using organic semiconductors.

In order to advance such research, there is a limit to how far we can go with an application-oriented approach. As scientists, we also value exploratory science research that is rooted in a broad perspective and pure intellectual curiosity. If we can gain a deeper understanding of fundamental disciplines such as solid state physics and quantum mechanics, and if we can think flexibly without being bound by preconceived notions based on these disciplines, we can expect great breakthroughs. New and innovative device technologies that support a new society. This research field is on the eve of a revolution, and there are great opportunities for young people to play an active role on the international stage.

Laboratory

Ultra-Low Power CMOS Semiconductor Devices Exploited by Heterogeneous Material Integration

We are looking forward to the participation of motivated people who want to dive right into the cutting edge of semiconductor device research, which is hotly pursued around the world, and who want to see how their knowledge of physical properties and semiconductors can be useful in practice.

Researcher Name: Shinichi Takagi
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: Hongo

高木信一

Next-generation AI and IoT devices opened up by silicon photonics

By combining two-dimensional materials such as Ge, III-V compound semiconductors, and graphene with silicon photonics, we are conducting research on programmable optical circuits for AI, optical wiring LSIs, and mid-infrared integrated circuits that use optical computation for deep learning. Our goal is to realize innovative computing that does not depend on Moore's law.

Researcher Name: Mitsuru Takenaka
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: Hongo

竹中充

Semiconductor Integrated Photonics

We are studying the technology of trapping light inside a semiconductor chip of a few millimeters square and manipulating its state at will. Our goal is to create optoelectronic integrated chips that take advantage of the unique features of light that electrons do not have, while leaving the smart calculations to electronic circuits. Our goal is to create so-called "best of both worlds" optoelectronic integrated chips, and to apply them to a wide range of fields such as next-generation optical communications, optical wiring, imaging, and sensing.

Researcher Name: Takuo Tanemura
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: Hongo

種村拓夫

Integrated circuits and renewable energy using compound semiconductors

In our laboratory, we actually fabricate solar cells and integrated optical devices from scratch. When we carefully examine the characteristics of the actual devices, we find that they are quite different from the virtual devices modeled on a computer. Interaction with real devices is the most important research process for us.

Researcher Name: Yoshiaki Nakano
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: Hongo

中野義昭

Semiconductor devices and systems that convert sunlight into fuel

We have a wide range of interests from basic research to social demonstration of renewable energy utilization technologies. The interface between electricity and chemistry, research and society, is at the cutting edge.

Researcher Name: Masakazu Sugiyama
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: KomabaⅡ

杉山正和

Research on novel electronic materials and devices, and spintronics

We are conducting research on new materials, heterostructures, nanostructures, and devices with the aim of creating new electronics that utilize the spin function of electrons.We are working on a wide range of topics, from basic research in science based on intellectual curiosity to research with a view to engineering applications. We are working on new materials, heterostructures, nanostructures, and devices utilizing the spin function of electrons.

Researcher Name: Masaaki Tanaka
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: Hongo

田中雅明

Creation of spin current devices using semiconductor/oxide heteroepitaxy technology

We are fabricating high-quality single-crystal heterostructures consisting of various material systems, mainly oxides and semiconductors, by using molecular beam epitaxy technology. We aim to explore new physics related to spin currents and to realize novel devices with high efficiency by controlling spin currents with high efficiency.

Researcher Name: Shinobu Oya
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: Hongo

大矢忍

Semiconductor spin functional devices

We aim to create semiconductor spin functional devices based on the creation of various electronic materials on semiconductor substrates, the exploration of their functionality, and the clarification and control of the physics of spin-polarized conduction electrons generated in semiconductors.

Researcher Name: Ryosho Nakane
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: Hongo

中根了昌

Elucidation of physical properties of new electronic and spintronic materials

Understanding the mechanisms of physical properties can provide clues to the creation of materials that are desired for high performance and applications. In our laboratory, we are conducting basic research on electronic structure analysis using synchrotron radiation spectroscopy in order to elucidate the physical properties of functional electronic materials and to design new materials.

Researcher Name: Masaki Kobayashi
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: Hongo

小林正起

Research on flexible sensors using organic materials

We are conducting research on flexible electronics, including organic transistors and organic optical devices. We are developing new devices and sensors in a clean room using the latest equipment including printing equipment. The laboratory is run jointly with Professor Takao Someya.

Researcher Name: Tomoyuki Yokota
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: Hongo

横田知之

Research on skin electronics using soft organic materials

We are conducting research on the application of organic electronics to biological and medical devices. We are actively collaborating with many research grooves (scientists, physicists, doctors, companies) in Japan and abroad.

Researcher Name: Takao Someya
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: Hongo

染谷隆夫

Medical applications of soft and flexible devices

We are engaged in the research of flexible devices for biological applications by utilizing the unique functions of organic materials. In recent years, we have proposed pressure sensors that do not affect skin sensation, breathable electrodes that do not cause inflammatory reactions, and nanomesh sensors that are soft down to the cellular level, aiming to conduct research into next-generation biointerfaces that take advantage of their high biocompatibility.

Researcher Name: Sunghoon Lee
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: Hongo

李成薫

Microchips and AI for Cancer Diagnosis, Flexible Sensors and AI for Doraemon's Hands

Google is vigorously pursuing medical and welfare research, not unrelated to the fact that Sergey Brin, Google's founder, has hereditary Parkinson's disease. Japan's healthcare-related trade deficit reaches 3 trillion yen a year. Knowing the way of thinking of researchers in different fields will be a source of food for the future. Why don't you take up the challenge of multidisciplinary collaborative research!

Researcher Name: Hiroshi Onodera
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: Hongo

小野寺宏

Physics of Photonic Nanostructures and Topological Wave Engineering

We are investigating the physics of light and light-matter interactions in photonic nanostructures, and conducting fundamental research on topological photonics, which is a fusion of topological concepts and optical technology, with the aim of creating new optical devices based on these concepts.

Researcher Name: Satoshi Iwamoto
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: KomabaⅡ

岩本敏

Exploring new materials and their material properties

We are studying new materials and nanostructured optical materials. In particular, we are developing the realization of single-photon source devices and their technologies, etc. for the realization of quantum information processing.

Researcher Name: HOLMES MARK JAMES
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: KomabaⅡ

HOLMES MARK JAMES

Terahertz Nanoscience and Extreme Device Physics

In Hirakawa Laboratory, we are conducting research to clarify the physics of nanostructures such as single molecules, quantum dots, and NEMS, and to consider devices with new operating principles and ultra-sensitive detection technologies based on them. We welcome people who have a romantic interest in physics and who like to make things.

Researcher Name: Kazuhiko Hirakawa
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: KomabaⅡ

平川一彦

Physics of nanoscale heat conduction and thermoelectric conversion applications

We are researching and developing advanced heat conduction and heat dissipation control technologies using nanostructures to solve the heat dissipation problems of smartphones, and energy independent sensors that are useful for realizing a smart society, through industry-academia collaboration.

Researcher Name: Masahiro Nomura
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: KomabaⅡ

野村政宏

Exploring the Nanometer World with Nanoprobes :"Seeing" the Invisible

Our laboratory aims to establish novel evaluation techniques for physical properties in the nanometer range using nanoprobe technology with nanometer-order resolution, and to contribute to the exploration of new devices through the understanding of such physical properties.

Researcher Name: Takuji Takahashi
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: KomabaⅡ

高橋琢二

The IT problem of the next 10 years will be the power supply

MEMS is a complex area of electricity, machinery, chemistry, material mechanics, fluid mechanics, optics.... The construction of the fabrication process requires puzzle-solving inspiration based on an understanding of material properties and semiconductor processes, and the technical drawing of the presentation requires an artistic sense. Please aim to become a modern-day Leonardo da Vinci in this new field.

Researcher Name: Hiroshi Toshiyoshi
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: KomabaⅡ

年吉洋

The World of Silicon Nanodevices for Large-Scale Integration

Hiramoto and Kobayashi Laboratory aims to pursue the ultimate integrated nanodevices through device-side innovation in the future of innovative integrated nanoelectronics, and to contribute to the solution of various problems in the world.

Researcher Name: Toshiro Hiramoto
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: KomabaⅡ

平本俊郎

The World of Silicon Nanodevices for Large-Scale Integration

Hiramoto and Kobayashi Laboratory aims to pursue the ultimate integrated nanodevices through device-side innovation in the future of innovative integrated nanoelectronics, and to contribute to the solution of various problems in the world.

Researcher Name:Masaharu Kobayashi
Graduate School: Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering (Electrical and Electronic)
Campus: KomabaⅡ

小林正治

Center for Spintronics Research and Education (CSRN)

Spintronics is an interdisciplinary and cross-sectional field that involves the research and development of innovative materials, devices, and systems by actively incorporating the degree of freedom of spin into electronics and information processing. The field of spintronics, which is also closely related to quantum information science and technology, is rapidly developing in terms of both academics and applied technology, and is an important field that is the focus of intense research and development competition throughout the world. The use of "spin" in addition to "charge" and "light" in the hierarchy of materials, devices, and systems is expected to lead to the rapid development of new ICT technologies with reduced energy consumption, and contribute to the creation of new industries, the strengthening of existing industries, and the realization of an energy-saving and environmentally conscious society. This will require diverse and cross-disciplinary research in physics, applied physics, electronics, magnetic engineering, materials science, chemistry, information science, and their boundary and new fields, and will also contribute to the creation of new science.

Name of Institution: CSRN
Graduate School: Engineering
Departments: Electrical Engineering, Physical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Bioengineering, Research Organization, Graduate School of Science, Institute of Industrial Science, Institute for Solid State Physics, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, etc.
Campus: Hongo, Komaba, Kashiwa

CSRN