Multiscale Spectroscopy Smart lab

Professor NISHIBORI Maiko

International Center for Synchrotron Radiation Innovation Smart

Concurrent : Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials

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• TEL：022-752-2346

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• Researcher Information
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Themes

• Elucidating Structure-Function Correlations by Tracking Hierarchical Structural Dynamics Using Multi-scale Synchrotron Measurements
• Noble Metal Loading and Nanospacing Utilization on Oxide Surfaces Templated by Polymer Brushes

Keywords

Synchrotron X-ray Spectroscopy, Functional materials science, Hierarchical structure dynamics

Research Activities

Unraveling the 'Why' of Materials with Synchrotron Radiation – Visualizing the Correlation Between Hierarchical Structure and Function on a Multiscale Level

The source of the excellent functionality exhibited by metals, polymers, biomaterials, and others lies in the complex "hierarchical structures" spanning from the nano to macro scale. Our laboratory utilizes the powerful tool of "synchrotron radiation" to understand the "correlation between hierarchical structure and function." What happens inside materials when they function under real-world conditions such as heat, light, and stress? We advance "synchrotron radiation materials science" by visualizing the chemical states of specific elements across multiple scales, unraveling the mechanisms behind functional expression. Our greatest strength is our ability to "use synchrotron radiation measurements tailored to the phenomena we want to observe." By freely combining multiple techniques, including spectroscopy, scattering and diffraction, and imaging, we explore the mechanisms behind the formation of complex, heterogeneous material structures from multiple perspectives. In particular, "X-ray spectroscopy," which allows us to analyze the chemical states of substances in detail, is a core analytical technique.
With cutting-edge measurement technologies, we are challenging ourselves to make new scientific discoveries. One of our achievements is the elucidation of the electronic state of ultra-small cerium oxide nanoparticles (less than 2 nm in particle size) synthesized by supercritical hydrothermal methods. Using synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy, we made the groundbreaking discovery that Ce4f electrons localize in cerium-based oxides without the presence of oxygen vacancies.
Soft X-ray spectroscopy is one of NanoTerasu's areas of expertise. In collaboration with the University of Tokyo's Institute for Solid State Physics, we succeeded in directly observing for the first time the "bending" of CO2 molecules adsorbing onto a polymer film under atmospheric pressure, using soft X-ray emission spectroscopy.
We face these state-of-the-art devices and aim to discover scientific truths that have never been seen before.