International Center for Young Scientists ICYS NIMS

19/08/2026

Recent Advances in Anhydrous Proton Conduction in Framework Materials

We are excited to announce that
ICYS Research Fellow Dr. Nattapol Ma has published a new paper in Chemical Science!

Title:
Superprotonic conductivity in crystalline and amorphous framework materials under anhydrous conditions

Research Highlights:
This review provides an overview of the mechanisms and design principles governing anhydrous proton conduction in framework materials, including coordination polymers (CPs), metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), their glasses, and covalent organic frameworks (COFs). The article discusses proton-transport mechanisms, materials-design strategies, current challenges, and emerging opportunities for developing high-performance proton conductors for hydrogen-energy applications.

Publication:Chemical Science
Author: Dr. Nattapol Ma (ICYS Research Fellow)
[Read the full paper here]

19/08/2026

Fe Substitution Stabilizes Oxygen Redox in Li-Rich Disordered Rocksalt Cathodes

We are excited to announce that
ICYS Research Fellow Dr. Chia-Ching Lin has published a new paper in Chemical Engineering Journal!

Title:
Regulating cation disorder to stabilize oxygen redox in Li-rich DRX cathodes via Fe substitution

Research Highlights:
We found that Fe substitution can improve the reversibility of oxygen redox in Li-rich disordered rocksalt cathodes by modifying the local cation environment and electronic structure, while also suppressing structural degradation. This work provides new insight into how cation disorder and transition-metal chemistry can be controlled to stabilize anionic redox reactions, offering a promising materials-design strategy for developing high-capacity, Co/Ni-free cathodes for next-generation lithium-ion batteries.

Publication:Chemical Engineering Journal
Author: Dr. Chia-Ching Lin (ICYS Research Fellow)
[Read the full paper here]

03/08/2026

Call for Applications!
The International Center for Young Scientists (ICYS) of the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) invites outstanding researchers to apply for two career positions: ICYS Principal Investigator (PI) and ICYS Research Fellow (RF).
Location: Tsukuba, Japan　Apply before September 29, 2026!
https://www.nims.go.jp/icys/recruitment/index.html

01/07/2026

New evaluation method to quantify interfacial strength of thermally grown oxides and Ni-base superalloys

We are excited to announce that
ICYS Research Fellow Dr. Chihiro TABATA has published a new paper in Materials & Design!

Title:
Evaluation method for the interfacial strength of thermally grown Al2O3 scale and Ni-Al alloy

Research Highlights:
We proposed a new method for analyzing the interfacial strength of thermally grown oxides and Ni-base superalloys by the combination of experimental method (nanoindentation) and numerical simulation (finite element analysis). This is an advancement in assessing and understanding the adhesion of oxide layers formed by high temperature oxidation, which is also one of the key parameters necessary for predicting the high temperature properties of superalloys.

Publication:Materials & Design
Author: Dr. Chihiro Tabata (ICYS Research Fellow)
[Read the full paper here]

30/06/2026

Freestanding Nanomembranes for Enhanced Light-Matter Interactions
ICYS Research Fellow Dr. Chun-Hao Chiang
https://www.nims.go.jp/icys/research/

■Research Introduction
Light–matter interactions underpin a wide range of photonic technologies. However, conventional photonic structures are typically much thicker than emerging low-dimensional materials, limiting their interaction with light. My research addresses this challenge by developing freestanding ultrathin nanomembranes assembled from atomic-layer building blocks. By combining ordered stacking with engineered nanopatterns, these membranes support strong optical confinement and enhanced light–matter interactions while maintaining an ultrathin geometry. Through the integration of membrane fabrication, nanostructure engineering, and optical characterization, I aim to establish a versatile membrane photonic platform that enables efficient coupling with low-dimensional materials and advances nanophotonics and quantum technologies.

■About ICYS
ICYS provides a highly international and interdisciplinary research environment where researchers from diverse fields can exchange ideas and establish new collaborations. One particularly valuable aspect of ICYS is the close access to the NIMS Nanofabrication Facility, which offers comprehensive capabilities for advanced nanofabrication and characterization. This integrated infrastructure supports a workflow from material preparation and device fabrication to optical characterization, enabling efficient validation of new research ideas. Such a research framework provides an excellent foundation for interdisciplinary research in advanced materials and photonics. What I find most attractive about ICYS is the freedom to pursue independent research. It provides a unique opportunity to lead my own research project and shape my long-term research vision at an early stage of the career.

02/06/2026

Synthesis of Nanosheet Colloids Revealing Unique Solvent Dispersion and Aggregation Behavior

We are excited to announce that
ICYS Research Fellow Dr. Shuntaro UENUMA has published a new paper in RSC Advances!

Title:
Solvent dispersibility of two-dimensional particles with pseudo- and permanently interlocked polyethylene oxide brushes

Research Highlights:
We found the unique solvent-dispersion and aggregation behaviors of nanosheet colloids by attaching polymer chains through non-covalent interactions (host–guest chemistry and topological constraints). This system can be used to create smart, stimuli-responsive materials that take advantage of the reversible detachment of the polymer chains.

Publication:RSC Advances
Author: Dr. Shuntaro Uenuma (ICYS Research Fellow)
[Read the full paper here]

The solvent dispersibility of two-dimensional particles with pseudo- and permanently interlocked polyethylene oxide brushes was investigated. Their dispersibility was determined by desorption or retention of the polyethylene oxide axis of two-dimensional particles. This study provides new insight in...

30/04/2026

Physical AI Reads Spoken Digits Directly from Throat Vibrations — 96.8% Recognition without Preprocessing!

We are excited to announce that
ICYS Research Fellow Dr. Daiki NISHIOKA has published a new paper in Advanced Electronic Materials!

Title:
Ion-Gating Reservoir Computing for Preprocessing-Free Speech Recognition from Throat Vibrations

Research Highlights:
This study demonstrates a speech-recognition system that seamlessly integrates sensing and AI processing. Throat-surface vibrations during speech are detected by a throat-mounted π-gel-electret mechanoelectric generator (MEG) sensor and directly fed into an artificial intelligence device: an ion-gel/graphene-based ion-gating reservoir (IGR).

Unlike conventional microphone-based speech recognition, the system does not require frequency-domain analysis, handcrafted feature extraction, or other digital preprocessing. Instead, the nonlinear ion–electron dynamics inside the material device physically transform raw biomechanical vibration signals into features suitable for classification.

The system achieved 96.8% accuracy in spoken-digit recognition, highlighting its potential for compact and low-power edge-AI applications, including noise-resilient wearable speech interfaces, assistive communication technologies, and spoof-resistant biometric authentication based on throat-vibration signatures.

Publication:Advanced Electronic Materials
Author: Dr. Daiki NISHIOKA (ICYS Research Fellow)
[Read the full paper here]
https://doi.org/10.1002/aelm.202600006

This work presents a throat-mounted mechanoelectric sensor integrated with an ion-gel/graphene reservoir device for on-device speech recognition. The system converts raw biomechanical vibrations into...

30/04/2026

Hydrogen Surface Science for Catalysis
ICYS Research Fellow Dr. Chikashi YOSHIMOTO
https://www.nims.go.jp/icys/research/

■Research
The realization of carbon neutrality requires a deeper understanding of surface reactions that govern catalytic processes such as CO2 utilization. In particular, hydrogen plays a key role, as its chemical state (it can exist in both protonic and hydridic states, i.e., H+/H−) strongly influences reaction pathways and product selectivity. However, experimental determination of hydrogen speciation at material surfaces remains limited. The aim of this research is to clarify the speciation and structural configuration of hydrogen at the material surface. Low-energy ERDA is employed to directly probe hydrogen at the outermost surface, while SIMS and molecular dynamics simulations provide complementary insights into hydrogen behaviour from surface to bulk. By integrating ion beam analysis and atomistic simulations, this study establishes a unified understanding of hydrogen from surface to bulk, providing a basis for materials design from the surface.

■Comments
I am delighted to conduct my research in the outstanding environment provided by ICYS. The program offers a valuable opportunity to pursue independent and ambitious research with access to advanced facilities at the National Institute for Materials Science.
My research background is in Earth and planetary sciences, where I have investigated hydrogen in natural materials. At ICYS, I aim to build on this perspective by incorporating advanced materials science approaches, focusing on hydrogen at material surfaces through ion beam analysis and atomistic simulations. This allows me to connect knowledge of hydrogen in natural systems with state-of-the-art techniques developed in materials science.
The interdisciplinary environment at ICYS, with researchers from diverse fields, provides a stimulating platform for exchanging ideas and developing new collaborations.

30/04/2026

Experimental determination and thermodynamic calculation of alloy phase diagram
ICYS Research Fellow Dr. Kazushige IOROI
https://www.nims.go.jp/icys/research/

■Research
The demand for accelerated development of novel materials has never been greater, driven by the rapid evolution of AI and machine learning technologies. Alloy phase diagrams are powerful tools for the exploration of new materials, as they provide essential guidance for microstructural control and alloy design. However, precisely investigating phase equilibrium through traditional experimental methods is a time-consuming and costly process. To address this challenge, our research aims to establish a high-throughput experimental framework for phase diagram determination. By streamlining the acquisition of experimental data, we provide foundational datasets essential for establishing robust thermodynamic databases for multicomponent systems. Moving forward, this approach will facilitate the design of complex alloy systems, such as high-entropy alloys (HEAs), leading to breakthroughs in advanced structural and functional materials.

■Comments
I joined ICYS following a three-year postdoctoral fellowship at Tohoku University. One of the most exciting aspects of ICYS is the opportunity to collaborate with researchers from diverse scientific backgrounds. This environment also allows me to pursue my own independent research projects. Having direct access to the state-of-the-art facilities at NIMS is another significant advantage. I look forward to evolving as a researcher through the stimulating environment and interdisciplinary interactions here at ICYS.

30/04/2026

Nanoscale Control of Functional Material Properties in Nanophotonics
ICYS Research Fellow Dr. Naoki ICHIJI
https://www.nims.go.jp/icys/research/

■Research
The growing demand for efficient energy use and conversion has made photothermal energy conversion and thermal management increasingly important research topics. The aim of my research is to create new material functionalities by controlling heat at the micro- and nanoscale using light. Because many thermally driven phenomena are governed by thermal gradients, precise nanoscale control of heat could enable a variety of physical phenomena with very small energy input. In particular, I study how optical near fields and plasmonic structures can be used to generate and control localized heating and two-dimensional thermal distributions on material surfaces. By combining nanofabrication, optical measurements, and electromagnetic and thermal modeling, I seek to establish methods for precise control of heat using light, and to explore phase transitions and other physical phenomena driven by such controlled thermal fields.

■Comments
I am pleased to join ICYS as a research fellow. In my main research field, nanophotonics, the optical properties of materials are often controlled through geometrical design at the nanoscale. Building on this approach, I am interested in extending nanoscale optical control to a wider range of materials, including functional and magnetic materials. By making use of the broad expertise in materials science at NIMS, the advanced nanofabrication and characterization facilities, and interactions with researchers in different fields, I hope to contribute to the development of materials and devices that are both scientifically interesting and practically useful.