In our laboratory, we specialize in the design of energy storage materials, considering a range of factors spanning from atomic to microscopic level scales. Our primary focus is the in-depth analysis of material characteristics, encompassing morphology, crystal structure, and electronic properties. To accomplish this, we utilize synchrotron radiation-based analysis as a powerful tool, allowing us to investigate and comprehend the intricate properties of these materials.

Our ongoing research revolves around three key aspects: low cost, high energy, and all-solid-state batteries. These keywords encapsulate our focus on developing energy storage solutions that are not only economically feasible but also deliver superior performance, with a particular emphasis on advancing the technology of all-solid-state batteries.

Organic materials offer the advantage of being structurally flexible and capable of accommodating various ions like Li, Na, and K. Specifically, organic materials made from elements abundant in the natural world have the potential to meet a consistent and stable demand for energy.

However, with typical organic electrode materials, there's a trade-off: if they have a high reaction potential, their capacity is small, and if the capacity is large, the reaction potential is low.

To address this challenge, our research focuses on enhancing the reaction potential or capacity by fine-tuning the molecular structure of organic electrode materials that have demonstrated electrochemical activity.

Energy storage materials based on inorganic compounds can be categorized into transition metal oxides with lithium and oxides without lithium. Typically, the former is used as an anode material, while the latter serves as a cathode material. For these transition metal oxides, controlling the redox reaction is possible by introducing different elements or modifying the crystal structure. We aim to enhance performance by mitigating side reactions between electrodes and the external environment through surface coating. Moreover, inducing changes in physical properties through shape control is another avenue we explore.

Our focus involves developing energy storage materials using cost-effective elements and improving performance by incorporating various transition metals into transition metal oxide materials. Unlike conventional strategies involving electrochemically inert material coating, we are investigating over- and hyper-lithiated oxide materials as coating materials. From a shape control perspective, we aim to enhance the performance of oxide-based inorganic composite materials through structures like single-crystal, polycrystalline, and porous configurations.

In pursuit of advancing all-solid-state battery systems, our research focuses on optimizing the functionality of organic-inorganic electrode materials. Specifically, our aim is to enhance both reaction potential and expression capacity within this electrode system. This optimization is achieved through meticulous adjustments to diverse components of the electrode and the battery as a whole. By systematically tuning various elements, including solid electrolytes and the proportional composition of each component, we seek to unlock improved performance in the overall operation of the battery, ultimately contributing to the development of more efficient and reliable all-solid-state energy storage systems.