Research Divisions
Gas Separation・Gas Barrier Membrane Division
With the purpose on conserving carbon dioxide which mainly causing global warming, our research targets on the development of functional CO₂ separation membranes, various reactions using separated CO₂ , membrane reactors, separation membranes using porous ceramic materials for various gases, functional liquids/external field response membranes using metal complexes, and functional gas barrier membranes used in packaging and electrical/electronic fields.
Members
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- Koji Kuraoka (Professor)（Division Head）
- Tomohisa Yoshioka (Professor)
- Tomoyuki Mochida (Professor)
- Yuichi Ichihashi (Associate Professor)
- Eiji Kamio (Professor)
Research Topics
Development of advanced gas barrier membranes
We develop advanced gas barrier membranes with heat and chemical resistance, flexibility, surface hardness etc. for food & medical packaging field and electrical & electronic filed. We focus on organic-inorganic hybrid gas barrier membranes with high gas barrier property, heat and chemical resistance using inorganic segment (silica, clay) and organic segment (organic polymer).
Developments of functional films using meta-containing soft-matters
We are developing functional gels and films using ionic liquids and plastic crystals containing metal complexes. These materials exhibit various functionalities such as small molecule absorption/detection properties, chemical reactivities, and ionic conductivity. Our objective is to develop soft matters whose properties can be controlled by external stimuli such as light and heat.
Development of microporous ceramic membranes for gas separation
- Tomohisa Yoshioka
We develop microporous ceramic membranes that can be applied to gas separation by forming ceramic materials with excellent mechanical strength, heat resistance and chemical resistance to be an asymmetric thin layer. Focusing on titania and zirconia with particularly excellent stability among ceramic materials, the pore size and porosity are controlled by preparing nano-scale composites of metal oxide materials and organic chelating ligand molecules. We are aiming to apply these membranes to various gas separation processes such as hydrogen separation.
Development of Functional CO₂ Separation Membranes
Thin and Tough ion-gel-based CO₂ separation membrane
We develop CO₂ separation membranes with high CO₂ permeation but low permeation of other gasses by introducing specific compounds, that can selectively absorb CO₂, into polymeric membranes. Our focus is in non-volatile liquid compounds such as ionic liquids, which can selectively absorb CO₂ due to the high affinity with CO₂. Especially, we are trying to fabricate a tough and thin gel membranes with large ionic liquid content to develop high performance CO₂ separation membranes applicable for Direct Air Capture as well as CO₂ capture from flue gases.
Development of CO₂ Reforming Processes
- Yuichi Ichihashi
We develop catalytic reaction processes to convert high-concentrated CO₂ collected by using membrane separation into resources. Catalytic CO₂ reforming can produce synthesis gas (CO + H₂) by reaction between natural gas and CO₂, which are important resources for chemical products. We aim to achieve a process intensification of CO₂ reforming processes by clarification of chemical properties for catalysts, effect of transition reaction condition and operation, and suppression of catalytic degradation.
