Organization

Outline of the Research Institute

We develop the innovative functional materials in order to differentiate products by enhancing functions that do not allow other countries to follow and to enhance competitivenesswith the aim of contributing to the fields of next-generation mobility, energy and environment, and products realizing a safe society.

Greeting from the Director

To strengthen the industrial base for Japan's manufacturing industries, it is essential to create new material technologies by AIST original research. Innovative Functional Materials Research Institute (IFM-RI) is engaged in the research aimed at enhancing the functionality of various new materials such as fine ceramics, magnetic materials, composite materials and innovative manufacturing processes that cannot be caught up by other countries. To improve functionality of new material, we promote the research with industry and utmost the material performance by joining dissimilar materials and controlling the microstructure and interface state of materials for next-generation mobility, energy and environment fields, safe society, and daily living.

Our research institute promotes the research based on the following four targets. The enhancement of optical switching materials and gas sensors, which play an important role as a technology that improves comfort in houses and vehicles. The electrode materials and electrolyte materials aimed at realizing the theoretical performance limits of storage batteries and fuel cells that support energy and material conversion, which are indispensable for a carbon neutral society. Furthermore, we challenge on the development of materials that next-generation magnetic materials and related process technologies for mobility and industrial equipment, convert environmental pollutants into safe substances and new coating materials that prevent their adhesion to liquid and solid by technologies of smart materials and active sites of nano-space materials, which are important for circular economy and resource recycling society.

In recent years, material development requires both improved functions and improved development speed. In our institute, we will promote Materials Process Innovation Platform (MPI-PF), which is established at AIST Chubu Center from April 2022, will actively develop data-driven materials.

Theme of the Research Institute

1. Advanced stimulus response materials
2. Highly efficient robust energy materials
3. Advanced surface and nanoporous materials
4. Development of innovative magnetic materials

Organization

Staff Members

photo	position & name	field of expertise	and other info
	Director Yoshinobu Fujishiro	Material science ; Fine Ceramics ; Inorganic Process Chemistry	ORCID Web of Science
	Deputy Director Kenta Takagi	Magnetic materials ; composite materials ; Powder Metallurgy	ORCID Web of Science
	Prime Senior Researcher Woosuck Shin	Electroceramics ; human gas detection ; health care application	ORCID Web of Science
	Invited Senior Researcher Masato Tazawa	Optics and Heat Control Materials	ORCID Web of Science
	Technical Senior Officer Toshihiko Osaki	catalytic reactions ; catalytic chemistry ; catalytic functions ; functional ceramics	ORCID Web of Science
	Technical Senior Officer Keiji Kusumoto	ferroelectrics ; Piezoelectric ceramics ; functional ceramics ; China	ORCID Web of Science
	Specific Technical Officer Kazuyuki Suzuki	Magnetic materials ; Nanoparticles ; Permanent magnet ; Metals ; Powder Metallurgy	ORCID Web of Science
	Technical Senior Officer Masahisa Okada	Nanoparticles ; photo-functional materials ; Nanocrystalline materials ; Oxide electronics	ORCID Web of Science
	Technical Senior Officer Fumihiko Ohashi	Application of mineral-related materials ; Resource recycling	ORCID Web of Science
	Career Expert Akihiro Matsumoto	powder metallurgy ; functional composites materials ; magnetic materials	ORCID Web of Science
	Career Expert Atsuya Towata	Functional Composite Materials　; powder processing	ORCID Web of Science

Research Groups

• Electroceramics Group
  Leader, Group, Yoshitake Masuda
• Light and Heat Control Materials Group
  Leader, Group, Chihiro Urata
• Energy Storage Materials Group
  Leader, Group, Koichi Hamamoto
• Solid State Ionics Materials Group
  Leader, Group, Hirofumi Sumi
• Nanoporous Materials Group
  Leader, Group, Tatsuo Kimura
• Next-generation Permanent Magnet Materials Groupp
  Leader, Group, Yusuke Hirayama
• Functional Magnetic Materials Group
  Leader, Group, Shusuke Okada

Pamphlet

Pamphlet of Innovative Functional Materials Research Institute PDF[4.2MB]