SEM image of metallic copper fine particles

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High speed camera image of ignition of plasma in liquid

Join Us!

The objective of our laboratory is to help motivated students (YOU!) spread your own wings and fly high in your future. Your wings are your academic skills!

In this Novel Materials Hybrid Engineering Laboratory, we are engaged in the challenging study of creating hybrid materials, or so called nano-composite materials, and exploring their application potentials. By nano-composite materials, we mean hybrid materials that are produced by combining metals or metal oxides with carbon, semiconductors, organic molecules, macromolecules, or the like.

To fabricate a new hybrid material, we need to have broad knowledgesabout the surfaces and interfaces of the ingredients and should be able to control them. The important materials investigated here are nanomaterials and nanoparticle materials, whose properties are strongly affected by their surface structures and compositions. We are always thinking about surfaces and interfaces and creating new materials by combining materials with different characteristics.

In our studies, we often encounter problems that cannot be solved using only in-depth knowledge in one field. We are required to have a wide range of knowledge about various types of materials and expertise in analytical methods to develop a solid understanding and combine this knowledge to create new materials. However, we are not obsessed only with the “creation of materials”. We think that we should not focus entirely on making materials. We live in an era where parts or material makers are disposable. We aim to study materials with a focus on their applications and usages, as well as exploring new ways of utilizing them. We also want to incorporate a backcasting-type approach rather than a forecasting-type one to create new materials. With this aim in mind, we are committed to help our students built fundamental knowledge as well as abilities to apply it.

As important as it is to be passionate about studying one area, we also need people who are interested in various areas and who are capable of combining knowledge from various fields. The staff in our laboratory do not value one more than the other.

We also nurture students who excel in digging deeply into one area; this type of education has produced graduates who are already playing major roles in both academia and industry. We are confident that our education and research activities are capable of fostering excellent experts. Meanwhile, we also believe that society is in need more than ever of those who are capable of combining various elements. This need is demonstrated by the fact that our graduates receive job offers faster than most other students in the department. It is the “hybrid” people who can create hybrid materials, and we are trying to foster such “hybrid” talent.

We welcome you to join us and study with us.

We welcome professionals who seek the doctorate degree as well as students from abroad.

We welcome anyone who is motivated, regardless of age, nationality, race, and sex, including working adults who seek a doctoral degree and students from foreign countries. Our door is always open. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any inquiries.

Message from Prof. Tetsu Yonezawa

Not only are we making an effort to fabricate nanoparticles and prevent their surface oxidation, we also design and manufacture synthesized nanoparticles, hybrid materials that are combined with them as well as metals and hybrid oxidation-resistant metals. We enjoy our research tremendously and look forward to the day when the materials we create will find great applications in society. In light of the mission of the Division of Material Science and Engineering, applied research is required. However, we are also devoted to research that cultivates students’ talent as well as cutting-edge fundamental research in which the “why” and “how” behind observations are discussed from the perspectives of fundamental science and chemistry. In other words, we do not define our research as “applied” or as “fundamental.” Nor do we decide which is more important. We put our heart into academic research and enjoy it. We want our lab to be a place where we can develop our skills while making contributions not only to Japan but also to the world. For the research topic for each research group, please see the section Research Topics. As you will see, our research includes many cutting-edge studies that can be performed only at our laboratory. In addition, we conduct joint research and intelligent exchange on a regular basis with various corporations and universities; such activities also include inviting researchers from other universities to give lectures. Our research lab produces technical experts with not only knowledge but also a high level of “ingenuity,” who can think for themselves and create their own work. A person who can create work will never lose the means of earning their livelihood. Our laboratory focuses on fostering researchers and technical experts who will play active roles in academia as well as at corporations. Our laboratory grows as you grow. And so does Japan.

At the end of your research activities in our laboratory, you will meet your future where you will make contributions on a global scale as world-class experts. Our faculty members and supporting staff have provided and will work hard to provide an education that enables our students to grow to be valuable members of the global society who deserve such a bright future.

We welcome you to join us in our journey to a bright future.

The Novel Material Hybrid Engineering Laboratory also welcomes candidates from other universities and technical colleges. We welcome motivated candidates from all over the world. The only requirement is solid language skills in Japanese, English, or French.

High speed camera image of plasma in liquid

Research

Perfectly spherical copper fine particles

Laboratory

Cross-sectional SEM image of MLCC before firing

Research Achievement

STEM-HAADF image of titanium oxide crystal

Access

School of Engineering, Hokkaido University
The Novel Material Hybrid Engineering Laboratory is located on the 8th floor of the South building within the Material Science buildings.

Nearest Station

Get off at Kita 12-Jyo Subway Station on the Namboku Line (200 yen from Sapporo Station)

Take Exit 2, and take a right turn. Heading west, you will see the university site in the front. Make another right turn, and enter the university site through the Kita 13-Jyoumon (there is Seven Eleven across the street). If you go straight ahead, you will see the School of Engineering building. The Novel Material Hybrid Engineering Laboratory is located on the 8th floor of the South building within the Material Science buildings.

There is a University Loop Bus System.

Novel Material Hybrid Engineering Laboratory

Division of Material Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering
Hokkaido University

8 chome Kita 13-Jyou Nishi, Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi

Hokkaido, Japan 060-8628