Department of Energy and the Environment
As the scale of our economic and social activities grow, consumption of energy and resources will also increase causing global environmental problems such as air and water pollution, the greenhouse effect, etc. In order to develop new functional materials, useful for energy- and environment-related applications, research work beging carried out in this department is based surface- and interface chemistry and electrochemistry. Basic studies on materials design at molecular and atomic levels, molecular level understanding of their functions, etc., are undertaken in a good coordination with applied studies on the related chemical processes, metrological technology, etc.
In the energy-related field, the department has been involved in national projects of AIST, MITI, for example, "International Clean Energy New work Using Hydrogen Conversion (WE-NET)", "Broad Area Energy Utilization Network System International Technology" and the "Environmental Technology Development". The activities covers R&D in such wide areas of hydrogen energy technology as the production, storage and utilization of hydrogen, which has been the continuously studied from the start of the Sunshine Project, and R&D on a heat transport system by use of the reversible chemical conversion, a lean burn engine de-NO(x) catalyst technology, the chemical fixation of carbon dioxide, the development of supported gold catalysis and copper carbonyl catalysis, etc., for the above-mentioned processes.
In the environmental field, extensive studies are carried out in order to develop effective measurement and treatment techniques for the envronmental maintenance. A specific effort is directed to solid-state catalysis for use of depollution of air and water and to environment-compatible functional materials such as microcapsule and membrane.
Also, other new materials and techniques are being studied, including the synthesis of fine chemicals, environmental monitoring technology by means of ionselective type electrodes, micro ion sensors, and gas sensors, electroless-plating processes, and microcapsules, etc.
Hydrogen Energy Section
E-mail address :
h2energy@onri.go.jp
.
In the Hydrogen Energy Section, research is being done on ion-permeable polymer materials, called
solid polymer electrolytes (SPE)
, as well as on fuel cells using this material and on hydrogen production techniques using water electrolysis processes. A solid polymer type fuel cell using perfluorinated ion exchange membranes as the electrolyte provides a compact power generation system of extremely light weight, while water electrolysis using the SPE provides a high efficiency hydrogen production technique. An opening of a new horizons is expected in the world of new functional materials from the application of ion-exchange membrane-noble metal composites to electrically-powered, wet-type microactuators.
Chemical Metallurgy Section
E-mail address :
kinzoku@onri.go.jp
.
In the Chemical Metallurgy Section, the development of
hydrogen-storage alloys
and research for utilizing energy storage and conversion functions offered by the alloys are carried out. Hydrogen-storage alloys, which absorb and desorb hydrogen reversibly in high density, lend themselves as sage yet compact hydrogen storage materials. Rechargeable batteries using hydrogen storage alloys as the electrode are drawing attention as a new energy storage and conversion means featuring its high performance and excellent environment-compatibility. With these facts in mind, research work is being carried on in the section in search of new hydrogen storage alloys with large hydrogen capacity along with attempts to elucidate and control their fine metalographic structures, while aiming at establishing workable design standards for the alloys suitable for various applications.
Catalysis Section
E-mail address :
shokubai@onri.go.jp
.
The Catalysis Section devote itself to research and development of novel catalyst materials. A specific attention is paid to
the catalytic properties of gold (Au)
. When gold is deposited on metal oxide supports as ultra-fine particles with diameters smaller than 4nm, it can exhibit extraordinarily high catalytic activities at low temperatures. An atomic level investigation is being carried out on the correlation between the structures of the gold-metal oxide interfaces and their chemical reactivities. Efforts are also directed to the applications of supported gold catalysts in the conversion of hydrogen into other chmical substances, reduction and decomposition of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas from car engines, oxidation at room temperature of trace carbon monoxide or malodorous molecules, etc. Another line of approach to create the frontiers in the fields of catalysis is to clarify the relationship between the optical properties of thin-film type catalysts and their catalytic properties, which may leads to the development of new optical materials, and sensing systems.
Synthetic Chemistry Section
E-mail address :
gosei@onri.go.jp
.
In the Synthetic Chemistry Section, research work is being carried on aiming at the utilization of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide as resources, on the synthesis of hydrocarbons using the hydrogeneration reaction of carbon dioxide, and on
energy-efficient organic synthesis processes
of chemical products. For this purpose, research and development efforts are being made in search of high-performance solid-state catalysts. At the same time, efforts are being made to develop a super-strong acid catalyst needed for transforming the aromatic aldehide synthesis process, which normally requires pressure, into a more energy-efficient organic synthesis process, that can be done under normal temperatures and pressures, and the development of new highly active catalysts and new synthesis techniques using such catalysts.
Environmental Chemistry Section
E-mail address :
environ@onri.go.jp
.
In the Environmental Chemistry Section, our researchers are tackling research on sensor devices to be used for measuring various kinds of pollutants existing in water, which are necessary for the preservation of the environment, and on high-performance separation and analysis methods, as well as on the decomposition and processing techniques to deal with refractory chemical substances present in the water.
These researches
include the search for solid-state catalysts used for wet oxidation system intended for the effective decomposition of aromatic nitro-compounds and chloro-compounds existing in water and elucidation of the decomposition mechanism involved, the sensor film growing and control techniques needed for the development of the ISFET and optical fiber ion sensors, which are considered to have potentioal as chemical sensors for the next generation, and research on the elucidation of the response mechanism at the interface of sensors and on applications in the field of medical welfare.
Schematic illustration of solid polymer electrolyte water electrolysis.
Hydrogen-storage alloys and metal hydride storage battery.
Ultra-fine Au particles deposited on titanium oxide support.
Hydrogenation of CO2 and energy conservation synthesis.
Wet oxidation decomposition of harmful substances in waste water using solid catalysts.
by M.Taniguchi, Osaka Natl. Res. Inst.
Hydrogen Energy Section
Chemical Metallurgy Section
Catalysis Section
Synthetic Chemistry Section
Environmental Chemistry Section