Research Support Activities

＜Assistant Prof. ICHINOKURA＞
Quantum technologies, including quantum computing, networking, and sensing,are under active research and development as the next generation ofelectronics. They are attracting significant attention due to their potential to address complex issues in modern society, such as environmental challenges, medical advancements, and information technology improvements. The fundamental components of quantum technologies are qubits and quantum emitters. Luminescence defects in wide bandgap semiconductors hold promise for their application. In this study, we aim to generate such atomic defects on the surface of silicon carbide (SiC), a typical wide bandgap semiconductor. We seek to selectively induce atomic defects at the interface of a thin film of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and SiC, with precise control of the atomic structure. Our project will commence with fundamental research, including the development of measurement techniques to observe the fine structure at the interface and defects. We believe that utilizing the junction of common wide bandgap materials is a promising approach towards achieving low-cost quantum devices.

＜Assistant Prof. TOKUNAGA＞
Selective Laser Melting (SLM), one of the useful additive manufacturing techniques, has been expected to be a highly efficient method for shaping ceramics. However, ceramic products significantly reduce the strength if bubbles that are generated in the melt during fusion remain upon solidification. The mechanisms of bubble formation, growth and disappearance in ceramics are not well-understood, and then not only the practical application of ceramic additive manufacturing but also laser welding that is a precursor technology to SLM is not achieved.
In this study, I utilized a simple experimental system with optical filters to visualize the interior of the alumina melt during laser irradiation. This has enabled the direct observation of the dynamics of bubbles generated within the melt. The research aims to observe the growth and disappearance processes of bubbles generated inside the alumina melt produced by laser irradiation and to elucidate their mechanisms. Based on these results, I will invent methods to efficiently remove bubbles from alumina melt, considering the optimal temperature gradient and atmosphere.

＜Assistant Prof. YASUHARA＞
Investigations using nanometer-order thin films are very attractive for material scientists, not only to evaluate the physical properties of well-known materials, but also to establish new devices and materials. Among inorganic materials, I am interested in ferroelectric materials as a research object. Ferroelectric materials have electrical polarization so called spontaneous polarization exists within a unit cell of a crystal structure. In the ferroelectric thin films, however, chemical defects formed during a thin film preparation process sometimes inhibit ideal physical properties.
In this study, I would like to understand physical properties of ferroelectric materials from the crystal structure, high temperature annealing over the preparation temperature is proposed as an approach to reduce the effects of defects.

＜Assistant Prof. HOMMA＞
Polymers with heteroatoms, which are atoms other than carbon and hydrogen atoms, are used as functional polymers due to their characteristic properties. On the other hand, in polymer synthesis, cyclic monomers show specific reactivity and the resulting cyclic polymers also have unique properties. Therefore, cyclic monomers with heteroatoms have the potential to give us new functional polymers. In this study, I aim to develop new heteroatom-containing vinyl monomers with ring structures and establish a synthetic method for new functional polymers.

＜Assistant Prof. FUJIOKA＞
Immunofluorescence staining is a general method for visualizing target proteins with high specificity by using fluorescent dye-labeled antibodies that specifically bind to target proteins. However, fluorescence microscopy is impeded by the “color barrier”, and the number of simultaneously resolvable targets are limited to about 4. To solve this problem, cyclic immunofluorescence has been developed, in which fluorescent dyes are quenched once they have been detected, followed by the detection of other targets, however, the general quenching process can be harsh for biological samples. Therefore, in this study, we focused on Raman microscopy due to its superior potential for multiplexed detection. In particular, the Raman probe to be developed in this research is expected to expand the number of simultaneously detectable targets at one cycle and to be quenched under mild condition, thus being a new multiplexed detection technique that minimizes sample damage.