Self-evaluations, external evaluations, Project achievement report

In this project, we will proceed with world-class fundamental research relating to discovery and innovation of new nanomaterials, led by the centered research group of tenured professor Sumio Iijima, and with university support, as well as based on the traditional nanomaterial research at the birthplace of carbon nanotubes, Meijo University. We will publicize the results through various media, such as our website and open lectures, and in order to realize our university's vision for the future, “Creating a Learning Community,” we will promote our research mission to build the brand of “Global Meijo University.”

This project is aimed at increasing our brand value through branding strategies such as creating and developing new nanomaterials, recruiting highly motivated candidates with a broad perspective, and bringing our traditional nanomaterials research up to the world's highest level in order to establish a global research base. Also, with our university's vision for the future of "Creating a Learning Community" our goal is to return the fruits of academic inquiry and the application of theory to education and society. Furthermore, we will promote collaborative branding with the selected project from FY 2016 ("Meijo university's brand building program by developing new optical devices based on blue LED") to build a brand image as "Global Meijo University."

When the FY 2017 project was selected, the Nanomaterials Research Center was established to be a research base. We purchased the AFM Raman system and the arc plasma deposition system for advanced nano-analysis research equipment and prepared environment for developing the research base. On December 31, 2017, on the front page of the Chunichi newspaper morning edition, “Nanomaterials base established at Meijo University” headline appeared, drawing people’s attention. We also made a website for disseminating information. The selected project from FY 2016, in conjunction with "A program which contributes to Meijo University's brand image through the realization of a new optical device based on blue LED” we held a public symposium "Nanomaterials and Light that are Changing the World" which includes a lecture by Sumio Iijima, Director Emeritus of the Nanomaterials Research Center, etc. We also provided our project overview and future activities. The amount of subsidies used for the FY 2020, was 90,968,000 yen, used for research expenses (AFM Raman system, arc plasma deposition system and other equipment, national and international travel expenses, special part-time compensation, etc) and 4,448,000 yen for PR expenses (creating a website, holding symposiums, and having CNT exhibition equipment, etc. ) For a total of 95,416,000 yen.　

We added derivation research selected through internal recruitment in FY2018 to the Nanomaterials Research Center established in the previous fiscal year, we were able to promote the research of nanomaterials efficiently, intensively, and powerfully by gathering researchers in the university and utilizing the AFM Raman system and the arc plasma deposition system. Our achievements include the analysis of the chemical bonding of catalysts particles during SWCNT growth using radiation, the world's first XAFS measurements of catalyst particles during SWCNT growth, the synthesis of new noble metal oxide nanosheets, and the successful hybridization of D15C5 and oxide nanosheets. These achievements have been reported in 20 keynote speeches and invited presentations and 12 full papers at national and international conferences including two patent applications. For university’s branding, we held a public symposium titled “The New Materials that are Changing the World,” and we set up a PR booth to raise awareness of our research on campus, worked with local governments together to offer lectures to citizens on our research and our results. We also gave model lectures at high schools, and joined Innovation Japan exhibit. Also, we held nine nanomaterial seminars within the fiscal year by researchers, students, and graduate students who engaged in nanomaterial research. In the “2019 Ranking of Universities of Interest” based on a survey targeting high school students, our university ranked No.1 in the Chubu region for three consecutive years, surpassing the boundaries of the Tokai region and showing a strong presence in the Hokushinetsu region.
The status of subsidy usage for the fiscal year is as follows: 22,546,000 yen for research expenses (infrared spectrometer and other equipment, nitrogen gas, travel expenses, PD salaries, etc.) and 2,174,000 yen for PR expenses (setting up a PR booth, holding symposiums, etc.) The total: 24,720,000 yen. The internationalization of this project has sped up, with many research opportunities at overseas universities and research institutions, including trips to the United States, Russia and India.

In the study of nanocarbons, we have developed a fast "in-situ" measurement method using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAFS) to elucidate the growth process of carbon nanotubes.

Research on diameter control and enlargement of thin single-walled carbon nanotube films also showed some positive results.
In research on oxide nanotubes, we succeeded in synthesizing iron oxide and titanium oxide nanotubes, doping Li oxide on iron oxide nanotubes, and forming mixed crystals of titanium oxide nanotubes. Additionally, we synthesized hexagonal boron nitride and succeeded in making a sample with a large domain size of several tens of micrometers. These results are shown in 60 conferences, 8 keynote and invited presentations, 13 academic papers, and 2 patent applications. In terms of branding, a university-sponsored public symposium was canceled due to the spread of coronavirus, but the Nanomaterials Research Center held the “International Symposium on Advanced Nanocarbon Materials” and the “Nanomaterials Seminar”, etc on an ongoing basis. We sent DMs to high school students who are interested in studying science across the country to raise awareness of the project. In addition, Meijo University hosted the Meijo University Techno Fair 2019 on August 27, 2019, which welcomed 800 visitors to spread the seeds of our research to a wider audience.
In FY 2019, we worked more on promoting internationalization through joint research with universities and research institutes overseas, including joint research with Shanghai University (China) and others, and concluding inter-undergraduate agreements with Dhempe college of Arts and Science (India). The status of subsidy usage for the fiscal year are as follows: 35,830,000 yen for Research expenses (SJT 1000 degree heating chamber and other equipment, hydrochloric acid, academic travel expenses, PD salary, etc.) and 2,774,000 yen for PR expenses (producing and shipping DMs, holding symposiums, etc.). The total: 38,604,000 yen.

This project was subsidized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) until the end of FY 2021. However, due to policy revision in FY 2018, the project was terminated at the end of FY 2019. As a result of discussion, it was decided to reduce the budget at the time of application and to continue the project until FY 2021, which is the final year of the project’s original plan. We will review our initial project plan including the results and achievements, and develop the project over the next two years. In 2020, we will continue to efficiently, intensively, and vigorously explore and create new nanomaterials centering with the Nanomaterials Research Center. In the fundamental physical properties, we will continue our research from the previous FY to elucidate the growth mechanism, control the structure of carbon nanotubes, and to explore new developments in oxide nanotubes and oxide nanosheets. We also desire to work on the low-temperature growth of graphene and the application of machine learning to nanomaterials research. For application studies, we will continue our work on electronic structure control and catalytic activity evaluation by doping oxide nanotubes and oxide nanosheets for electrode applications, as in the previous year. We will strengthen our role as a center of international collaboration by collaborating with national and international research institutions. For our research results, we will set a goal to exceed the number of full papers, conference presentations, and commissioned/joint research projects from the previous year. We will disseminate information to the general public through our website, etc., and convey the uniqueness and importance of nanomaterials to elementary, junior high and high school students in the easy to understand way. As part of our branding activities to improve the international recognition, we will continue to hold international exchange symposium, while carefully assessing the status of the coronavirus situation.
For FY 2021, it is the final year of this project, we hope to fabricate nanostructured composites composed of nanomaterials with different dimensional structures as the culmination of our research activities. Also, we desire to develop image processing technology and realize "research results visualization". For our research results, we will set a goal to exceed the number of full papers, conference presentations, and commissioned/joint research projects from the previous year. In addition to our previous efforts, since this would be the final of this project, we will hold a symposium on nanomaterials open to the public, to widely publicize the results of this project. We desire to continue the model classes for elementary, junior high and high school students as this project is important in developing the human resources that will support the future of Japan. Based on our previous 5-year efforts, we aim to build a brand image as a research-oriented and global Meijo University as well as building a brand image of Meijo University as a university that fosters quality students, through students and graduates who play an active role internationally. It is necessary to build a permanent system and facility for the university’s website and showroom in mutual effort with the FY 2016 select project "A program which contributes to Meijo University's brand image, through the realization of a new optical device based on blue LED."