Winner Award Affiliation Title of Research
2023 Award
2023
Award
Assistant Professor
Department of Electronic Science and Engineering, Kyoto University
Title of Research
Exploring spatially and temporally resolved deep-ultraviolet spectroscopy toward understanding and controlling optoelectronic properties of ultrawide bandgap semiconductors
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
Ultrawide bandgap*1 (UWBG) semiconductors have attracted much attention as next-generation semiconducting materials because of their extremely large bandgap. Diamond, gallium oxide (Ga2O3), and aluminum nitride (AlN) are typical examples of UWBG semiconductors, and it is expected that efficient deep-ultraviolet light-emitting devices*2 and ultra-low-loss/high-voltage power devices will be realized using UWBG semiconductors. However, the luminous efficiency*3 of deep-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes based on UWBG semiconductors is currently very low. Dr. Ishii attributed it to the incomplete understanding of UWBG semiconductor physics, and further focused on the immaturity of deep-ultraviolet spectroscopy*4 which is one of the analysis and measurement techniques for UWBG semiconductors. Dr. Ishii has been investigating the optoelectronic properties of UWBG semiconductors by exploring spatially and temporally resolved deep-ultraviolet spectroscopy. These include the development of a deep-ultraviolet spectroscopic system under perturbation*5 (uniaxial stress/electric) field and a deep-ultraviolet scanning near-field optical microscope*6 operating at the world's shortest wavelength, the elucidation of the exciton fine structure*7 of AlN, and the observation of a radiative recombination defect in aluminum-gallium-nitride (AlGaN) quantum well structures. These studies should accelerate the development of UWBG semiconductor devices and technologies. 1 Wide Bandgap:Refers to semiconductors with a large bandgap. The bandgap is a barrier within the semiconductor that electrons cannot pass through, and the wider the bandgap, the more restricted the movement of electrons. It is a crucial factor determining the electrical and optical properties of the semiconductor. 2 Deep-ultraviolet light-emitting device:A device that emits light in the deep ultraviolet region. The deep ultraviolet region has a very short wavelength and higher energy compared to typical light. 3 Luminous efficiency:A measure of how much light output a device can achieve relative to the input power supplied to it. 4 Deep ultraviolet spectroscopy:A technique used to analyze the properties of materials using light in the deep ultraviolet region. By measuring how materials react to deep ultraviolet light, their characteristics and structures can be understood. 5 Perturbation:The change in external forces or electric fields applied to a system. Under perturbation, the properties and behavior of materials may change. 6 Near-field optical microscope:A high-resolution microscopy technique that allows the observation of small structures using light at optical wavelengths but using near field techniques to improve the spatial resolution. 7 Exciton fine structure:The state in which electrons and holes are bound together in a semiconductor material. Excitons are generated by absorbing energy such as light or an electric field, and they possess specific energy states.
2023 Award
2023
Award
Senior Scientist
Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich
Title of Research
Nanoscale Chemical Characterization of Novel Semiconductor Materials using Tip-Enhanced Optical Spectroscopy
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
Dr. Naresh Kumar's research focuses on the nanoscale investigation of two classes of semiconductor materials: two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. In the study of 2D TMDs, Dr. Kumar utilized tip-enhanced optical spectroscopy (TEOS) to investigate excitonic processes in single-layer (1L) MoS2 and WSe2. Through hyperspectral tip enhanced photoluminescence imaging, he demonstrated an unprecedented spatial resolution of 20 nm in mapping exciton and trion populations in 1L MoS2. In the case of 1L WSe2, Dr. Kumar combined TEOS with Kelvin probe force microscopy to reveal the optoelectronic behavior of grain boundaries (GBs) at a resolution of 50 nm. For OPV devices, Dr. Kumar introduced a novel methodology called simultaneous topographical, electrical, and optical microscopy (STEOM) by combining TEOS with photoconductive-AFM (PC-AFM). This innovative approach enabled the simultaneous characterization of topography, chemical composition, and photoelectrical properties of an operational OPV device with sub-20 nm resolution. The significance of Dr. Kumar's research lies in the advancements made in nanoscale characterization and understanding of novel semiconductor materials. He has expanded the capabilities of TEOS by applying it to 2D TMDs and OPV devices, surpassing the limitations of conventional techniques. His findings provide valuable insights into excitonic processes, heterogeneity of exciton and trion populations, optoelectronic behavior of GBs, and the structure property relationships in OPV devices. Dr. Kumar's research on the development of novel nanoanalytical technologies is expected to contribute significantly to the development and optimization of next-generation optoelectronic devices and organic photovoltaic technologies.
2023 Award
2023
Award
PhD Student
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Title of Research
Unraveling the Correlation between Raman and Photoluminescence in Monolayer MoS2 through Machine Learning Models
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs)*1 with intense and tunable photoluminescence (PL) *2 have opened up new opportunities for optoelectronic and photonic applications such as light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, and single-photon emitters. Among the standard characterization tools for 2D materials, Raman spectroscopy stands out as a fast and non-destructive technique capable of probing material crystallinities and perturbations, such as doping and strain. However, due to its highly nonlinear nature, a comprehensive understanding of the correlation between PL and Raman spectra in monolayer MoS2 remains elusive. In this work, Dr. Lu has systematically explored the connections between PL signatures and Raman* modes, providing comprehensive insights into the physical mechanisms correlating PL and Raman features. This analysis further disentangles the strain and doping contributions from the Raman spectra through machine-learning models. First, he deployed a DenseNet*to predict PL maps using spatial Raman maps*. Moreover, he applyed a gradient-boosted trees model (XGBoost)* with Shapley additive explanation (SHAP)* to evaluate the impact of individual Raman features on PL features, allowing him to link the strain and doping of monolayer MoS2. Lastly, Dr. Lu adopted a support vector machine (SVM)* to project PL features onto Raman frequencies. This work may serve as a methodology for applying machine learning in 2D material characterizations and providing the knowledge for tuning and synthesizing 2D semiconductors for high-yield PL. 1 Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC):Compounds consisting of transition metal elements and chalcogen elements such as sulfur, selenium, and tellurium, which have a two-dimensional layered structure. 2 Photoluminescence (PL):A phenomenon in which electrons in a material absorb light and emit light specific to that material. Raman emission:A phenomenon in which the crystal lattice of a material scatters light specific to that material. The scattered light can be spectrally analyzed to determine the characteristics of the material. DenseNet:A convolutional neural network used to learn features of images and patterns. Convolution refers to the process of detecting local patterns within an image. Spatial Raman map:A mapping of Raman spectra obtained from different positions on the surface of a material using Raman spectroscopy. XGBoost (gradient-boosted trees model):A machine learning algorithm known as gradient boosting. SHAP (Shapley additive explanation):A method for evaluating the contribution of features to the predictions of a machine learning model. SVM (Support Vector Machine):A machine learning algorithm used for tasks such as classification and regression.
2023 Honorable Mention
2023
Honorable Mention
Professor
School of Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Systems, The University of Tokyo
Title of Research
Electro-photonic Integrated Deep Learning Processor using Si Photonic Integrated Circuits
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
Prof. Takenaka has conducted pioneering research on the application of devices that integrate heterogeneous materials such as compound semiconductors, phase-change materials, and two-dimensional materials into silicon photonic devices for deep learning processors. Deep learning processors utilizing reconfigurable silicon photonic circuits (programmable photonic circuits) are expected to be capable of performing high-speed, low-power, and low-latency summation and multiplication operations, thereby improving the performance of artificial intelligence (AI) regardless of semiconductor miniaturization. Research on this next-generation computing technology is being conducted worldwide. However, in practical-scale programmable photonic circuits, precise measurement and control of optical phase within the circuit and measurement techniques that can convert optical operation results into low-power and high-speed photodetection are of utmost importance. Prof. Takenaka has been challenging the precise measurement and control of optical phase and intensity within photonic circuits by integrating compound semiconductors and phase-change materials into silicon photonic circuits. He is also engaged in research to achieve a new programmable photonic circuit that allows learning acceleration through error backpropagation on the optical circuit. These achievements are expected to greatly contribute to the early realization of deep learning processors using silicon photonic circuits. Compound semiconductor:A semiconductor material composed of multiple elements, exhibiting a wide range of physical and electronic characteristics and offering advantages such as high electron mobility and improved optical properties. Phase-change materials:Materials that exhibit the property of changing their phase (state) in response to variations in temperature or pressure. Two-dimensional materials:Materials that are extremely thin, with a surface structured in a two-dimensional manner. They are composed of atomic or molecular monolayers or a few layers. Photonic-Deep Learning Processor:An integrated circuit designed to perform specialized digital information processing by combining photonic and electronic circuits. It is used to execute the machine learning technique called deep learning. Reconfigurable silicon photonic circuit (programmable photonic circuit):A silicon-based circuit that can control the flow of light through programming. Optical phase:Information related to the position and direction of propagation of light waves. Measurement technique that converts optical computational results into optoelectronic signals:A technique that converts computational results performed within an optical circuit into electrical signals and reads the data. Error backpropagation:A learning method in neural networks where errors are propagated in the reverse direction to adjust the weights and biases, enabling accurate output generation.
2023 Honorable Mention
2023
Honorable Mention
Associate Professor/ Lecturer
Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University
Title of Research
Development of a compact deep-ultraviolet laser source for precision microstructure measurement
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
In this study, Dr. Kushimoto has demonstrated a compact deep ultraviolet semiconductor laser that can be integrated into high-resolution and high-precision measurement systems, supporting technological innovations in the semiconductor industry where miniaturization is advancing. Furthermore, she has successfully achieved room temperature continuous wave lasing. Laser light is used in non-contact and non-destructive optical analysis and measurement techniques. Laser light with shorter wavelengths can detect finer structures, making short-wavelength laser light sources increasingly important. Semiconductor lasers have been widely used as compact, high-efficiency, and low-cost light sources in inspection systems. However, there have been many challenges in realizing semiconductor lasers that emit deep ultraviolet light. Therefore, Dr. Kushimoto succeeded in realizing a deep ultraviolet semiconductor laser through the reduction of defect density in AlGaN using single-crystal AlN substrates and the use of a conductivity control technique different from conventional methods, involving pulse current injection. Furthermore, she constructed a measurement system for comprehensive evaluation and revealed that the deterioration of device performance is primarily caused by defect formation. Dr. Kushimoto proposed a method to suppress the concentration of shear stress through shape control of the laser crystal. As a result, she achieved a room temperature continuous wave lasing that operates at one-tenth of the initial power. This achievement greatly contributes to the practical application of deep ultraviolet semiconductor laser light sources.
2022 Award
2022
Award
Designated Associate Professor
Department of Chemical Systems, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University
Title of Research
Design of novel nitrogen reduction site led by atomic resolution electron microscopy analysis
Hydrogen
Hydrogen
The synthesis catalysts and process of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier with excellent storage and transport properties for hydrogen have attracted attention as a means of effective use of renewable energy. In order to develop highly active catalysts, it is necessary to analyze the structure and chemical state of the active site and lead to a new design. Dr. Sato established a method to directly analyze the active site of catalysts at the atomic level by combining observation and analysis techniques using aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopes and various spectroscopic detectors which require to be used without exposure to air in the development of catalysts. His research is extremely important as analytical and measurement techniques that lead to technological innovation in catalytic reaction processes. This method clarifies the structure and mechanism of nitrogen reduction sites (active site) required for highly active ammonia synthesis catalysts. Further it has achieved high activation and non-precious metallization, and developed world-class practical catalysts. The analytical methods developed will also be applied to actual catalyst development (design), which will contribute to the establishment of a carbon-neutral society by expanding the use of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier and the construction of a hydrogen distribution network.
2022 Award
2022
Award
Professor
Department of Electronics, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University
Title of Research
Development of scanning electrochemical cell microscopy for real space catalytic imaging
Hydrogen
Hydrogen
With increasing demand for hydrogen in recent years, catalysts have been developed to efficiently produce hydrogen instead of expensive precious metals such as platinum. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), which is noted as one of the catalysts, is known to be an excellent catalyst for hydrogen generation by making it a nanosheet for one layer of atoms. Further enhancement of the catalytic capacity of MoS2 requires understanding of what structure of the catalyst contributes to its activity, but the limitations of resolution in conventional Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy have not led to a detailed understanding of the principles that improve the catalytic capacity. Dr. Takahashi has succeeded in developing the Scanning Electrochemical Cell Microscopy (SECCM), which has greatly improved the resolution from the previous tens of μm to 20 to 50 nm: the world's highest resolution, as an ideal evaluation device for understanding phenomena. In addition, the structure of MoS2 has been elucidated by visualizing (electrochemical imaging) the catalytic active site using SECCM. Since the SECCM can also be used to modify the catalyst, identify degraded sites, and evaluate catalysts other than the hydrogen generation reaction, it can be applied to various research projects such as photocatalysts and power storage materials, and will contribute to energy-related research in the future.
2022 Award
2022
Award
Associate Professor
Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University
Title of Research
Development of electrochemical techniques for defect engineering on advanced energy materials
Hydrogen
Hydrogen
Highly efficient energy storage and conversion technologies, such as next-generation batteries and fuel cells, are essential for realizing carbon neutrality. In energy materials, lattice defects* are regarded as a source of their functionalities, and therefore, understanding the true role of defect species is important. By applying coulometric titration* with an electrochemical cell* with a solid electrolyte, Dr. Nakamura established a methodology to evaluate the defect formation mechanism, and clarified how defect species are created and how they affect the functionality. Furthermore, he has developed a defect control technique based on the above-mentioned technology to utilize defects actively in material development. For instance, he succeeded to dramatically mitigate the energy density degradation upon charge/discharge cycles by the introduction of oxygen defects into energy storage materials. The technique has great potential for the establishment of a new concept for the development of energy materials and innovations in energy storage and conversion technologies. *Lattice defects: Disturbance of atomic arrangement in crystalline materials. Typical examples include vacancies, substituted ions, and interstitial ions. *Coulometric titration: A method to evaluate a target substance by generating ions through electrolysis and measuring the amount of electric quantity required to complete the reaction between the generated ions and the target substance. *Electrochemical cell: An apparatus for electrochemical measurements consisting of an electrolyte, a cathode, an anode, and others.
2022 Honorable Mention
2022
Honorable Mention
Associate Professor
International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research, Kyushu University
Title of Research
Development of Highly Efficient Hydrogen Generation System by Plasmon-Induced Charge Separation Using Sunlight as Energy Source
Hydrogen
Hydrogen
Dr. Takahashi is establishing a system using localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and plasmon-induced charge separation (PICS). LSPR increases the density of solar energy. PICS occurs when metal nanoparticles and semiconductors are combined. The semiconductors need p-type semiconductors instead of conventional n-type semiconductors, which can improve stability and charge separation efficiency, and also improve the reaction selectivity by controlling the type of metals and crystal planes that make up the metal nanoparticles. This research can contribute to solving the energy problems by converting light energy into various types such as electricity, power, and heat in a high efficiency and stable manner. * Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) : A phenomenon in which nanosized metal harvests the photoenergy of incident light in its nanospace on the surface beyond the diffraction limit. In theory, it can enhance the optical energy of incident light by tens to millions of times. *Plasmon-induced charge separation (PICS): A phenomenon in which the charge of plasmonic metal nanoparticles is transferred to semiconductors under light irradiation at resonance wavelengths. *n-type semiconductor: A semiconductor in which electrical conduction occurs by the movement of free electrons. *p-type semiconductor: A semiconductor in which electrical conduction occurs by the transfer of holes.
2022 Honorable Mention
2022
Honorable Mention
Tenure Track Professor
Institute for Physical Chemistry (IPC) & Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU) Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Title of Research
Data driven acceleration of materials discovery and upscaling through correlative spectroscopy and lab-scale manufacturing
Hydrogen
Hydrogen
Dr. Stein aims to accelerate the development process of reliable and efficient materials used in batteries and electrolyte devices/apparatuses so that we can develop the technology necessary for a carbon-free energy infrastructure. Materials development requires exhaustive measurements, data correlation and experiment preparations to test hundreds of material combinations, leading to months-long material discovery times. Acceleration of the material discovery process is an important challenge. Dr. Stein has realized material research automation in the Platform for Accelerated Electrochemical Storage Research (PLACES/R). This platform uses data science to automate the material evaluation stage through the interconnection of analyzers (XRF, Raman, FTIR, XPS among others), data processing systems and robots. Artificial Intelligence (AI) adjusts testing parameters and objectives, while the researcher focuses on complex research planning and data interpretation. The automation of materials discovery experiments achieved by Prof. Stein will opens up a new dimension to research of energy materials for the decarbonization across energy sectors.
2021 Award
2021
Award
Professor / (Concurrent) Director of RILACS
Department of Physical Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Prefecture University (Concurrent) Research Institute for Light-induced Acceleration System (RILACS)
Title of Research
Development of innovative bio-measurement technology by micro-flow light-induced acceleration
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
On the medical, pharmaceutical and public health area, it is necessary to measure biological samples including proteins, saccharides, pathogenic materials and bacteria. However, traditional measurement methods include complex steps and need sophisticated expertise, expensive devices and long measurement time. To solve this problem, Professor Iida developed the microflow-mediated light-induced acceleration system (LAC-SYS). It uses the phenomenon that the irradiation of light on the photoresponsive material (like substrates and particles) induces the accumulation of biological material including proteins around the focal point. It has dozens or hundreds of times higher sensitivity than the conventional methods and can quantify the femtograms※ of protein in only a few minutes. This technology is expected to apply on the wide range of fields including medical and food areas. For example, it may accelerate and simplify screening process in the pharmaceutical development and diagnosis of individual patient in the personalized medicine. ※ femtogram : one quadrillionth of a gram
2021 Award
2021
Award
Associate Professor
Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo
Title of Research
Development of ultrafast machine vision-activated cell sorters and its applications
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
A high-quality cell sorter※1 that is able to perform real-time image information analysis to separate a large number of cells had been desired. However, there is always a tradeoff between the processible information per cell (quality) and the number of cells per time (quantity). Therefore, there had been no high throughput imaging cell sorter that holds both the advantages of optical microscope (high quality) and flow cytometry ※2 (high quantity). In order to overcome this, Dr. Ota came out with a new approach named “ghost cytometry”, originating from a concept that image reconstruction is not always necessary in image analysis when performed by machines, not by humans. humans. This method utilizes the motion of each cell in microchannels to acquire its compressed image signal by a single pixel detector, and directly applies AI to the signal, resulting in the development of the world's first, high-speed, and accurate image-free “imaging” cell sorter. This technology is expected to be widely applied in biotechnology and cellular medicine field which will benefit in medical diagnosis by using rare cells and drug screening based on cell analysis. (※1) cell sorter: A device that selectively separates various types of cells based on their respective characteristics. (※2) flow cytometry: A technology that irradiates light on cells flowing in a liquid and analyzes them by light scattering intensity and fluorescence intensity
2021 Award
2021
Award
Designated Assistant Professor (selected-YLC program)
Institute for Advanced Research/ School of Medicine,Tokai National Higher Education and Research System, Nagoya University
Title of Research
Elucidation of the mechanism of near-infrared light-induced cell death and method establishment
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
The typical current cancer treatment such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy cause damage to normal cells. The damage will result in side effects and make QOL (Quality of Life) of patients getting worse. Dr. Sato has studied the next generation cancer specific therapy called Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT), which can extremely decrease side effect of cancer therapy by targeting only cancer cells through antibody-probe complex. Cell death of targeted cells will be further triggered by reaction of probe and near infrared light. He also clarified the mechanism of cell death due to NIR-PIT and found out that dead cells can be quantified and estimated with near infrared fluorescence measurement. Dr. Sato has contributed a prior application designation of NIR-PIT from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency in Japan. His work greatly contributes to society by making a breakthrough in both diagnosis and therapy of cancer.
2021 Honorable Mention
2021
Honorable Mention
Associate Professor
Department of Applied Physics and Chemical Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Title of Research
Real-time monitoring and control of pharmaceutical production processes using spectroscopic data
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
In recent years, there has been a growing demand for developing new technologies that achieve higher operational efficiency of pharmaceutical manufacturing. As part of this, technological developments to promote shift from the conventional batch manufacturing ※ to continuous manufacturing are under progress. In order to realize continuous manufacturing, real-time pharmaceutical quality monitoring within the continuous manufacturing processes are critical. However, acquiring information related to pharmaceutical quality in real-time manner is often an issue. In addition, the conventional analytical methods for predicting pharmaceuticals quality from the near-infrared spectra suffer from deterioration of prediction accuracy over time, making it difficult for their installation in the process. Dr. Kim developed novel data analytical methods for quality prediction from near-infrared spectra with improved accuracy and robustness compared to the conventional methods. By performing real-time quality control with the developed methods, improved pharmaceutical production process, reduction of cost, environmental load as well as accidental risk can be achieved. ※ A manufacturing method in which each process is independent, and after the end of each process, sampling inspections are conducted to confirm quality of the products in prior to proceed to the next process.
2019 Award
2019
Award
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Electrical Engineering Technion Israeli Institute of Technology
Title of Research
Optimal Control of Energy Storage Devices for Future Power Grids and Electric Vehicles
Power/battery
Power/battery
Two current challenges of energy systems are integration of renewable energy sources and the increasing use of electric vehicles. It is well known within the power systems research community that a key enabling technology related to both these challenges is energy storage. However, the field of energy storage itself poses significant research questions. Dr. Levron focused on this important role of energy storage earlier than anybody, and developed optimal control methods that can help achieving high energy efficiency in complex power grids. By using this method, it is possible to schedule charging and discharging of the device precisely at appropriate timing. Dr. Levron's papers have been cited by many scientists, and he is considered a leading researcher in the field of energy storage management and control. Dr. Levron's research greatly contributes to the effective use of electric vehicles and renewable energy resources, and is also expected to be applied to larger-scale and complex power grids.    
2019 Award
2019
Award
Assistant Professor
International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research Kyushu University
Title of Research
Machine Learning based and Multi-Agent System based Control and Optimization Approaches for Electric Vehicles, Power Grids, and their Interactions
Power/battery
Power/battery
The purposes of this research are to stabilize the balance between demand and supply of electricity in the energy grid, to improve the system ability to cope with sudden changes in electricity demand and supply, and to optimize performance and efficiency of storage systems, e.g., batteries, expected to be used in home and regions. As a methodology to realize them, Prof. Nguyen proposes distributed implementation of the solutions, such as battery State of Charge (SoC) monitoring, charge/discharge control, and machine-learning based demand and supply prediction, onto Multi-Agent System (MAS). In this system, a wide range of power management functions required from in-vehicle battery to home, region, and even inter-region are executed by one or multiple agents at different scales. Its way of system design and operation is consistent, which is well advanced and unique in this domain. Prof. Nguyen's research shows practical paths to solve the problems of upcoming energy network system such as renewable energy integration and emergency power management.  
2019 Award
2019
Award
Associate Professor
Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics Graduate School of Engineering Kyoto University
Title of Research
Development of Parameter Sensitivity Plot and Application to Modeling of Lithium-ion Secondary Batteries
Power/battery
Power/battery
In the future society, such as those described in Industry 4.0, systems will consist of highly complex networks with many components and subsystems. To properly control such complicated systems, it is necessary to establish a methodology for modeling the system behavior without losing meaningful essences but yet simple enough. Therefore, a technology for finely evaluating the balance between the simplicity and the accuracy of the model is required. This unique viewpoint allowed Dr. Maruta to invent “parameter sensitivity plot.” This method visualizes the balance between simplicity and preciseness of the model in the frequency domain and enables us to finely evaluating it. He then applied it to Lithium-ion battery (LIB) and developed a precise and reliable model for estimating the state of health and charge of LIB. The developed technology is expected to contribute not only to LIB but also to a wide range of modeling problems of the complicated systems which will be faced in the future society.  
2019 Honorable Mention
2019
Honorable Mention
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemical Science and Engineering School of Materials and Chemical Science Tokyo Institute of Technology
Title of Research
Application and management of hydrogen energy technology toward the solar cell based distributed electricity grid
Power/battery
Power/battery
With the transition to renewable energy and hydrogen society toward CO2 zero emissions, various scale of power generation networks will be introduced everywhere. However, the effect of variable renewable energy to large-scale power networks become a key issue, so applying the energy storage technologies for small and medium-scale networks have been investigated. Dr. Hasegawa has analyzed the huge amount of actual data from minutes to years in the 10,000kW power size network developed by Tokyo Institute of Technology from various perspectives, and clarified the effect on stabilization and cost reduction by introducing hydrogen storage energy technology. In addition, Dr. Hasegawa has built the water electrolysis reaction prediction model based on fuel cell / electrolysis cell (SOFC / EC) technologies, and clarified the possibility the hydrogen energy storage technologies to become a promising technology for energy storage by improving its performance. This research is from both energy management and elemental technology, (macro / micro perspectives) can greatly contribute to new control technology for the power supply management system that performs while harmonizing each local power network.  
2019 Honorable Mention
2019
Honorable Mention
Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical Engineering Columbia University in the City of New York
Title of Research
Data-driven Modeling and Estimation of Li-Ion Battery Properties
Power/battery
Power/battery
Highly accurate State of Charge (SoC) determination techniques are essential to maximize the use of Li-ion battery pack and design cost-effective Electric Vehicles. Numerous techniques have been proposed to estimate SoC. However, existing techniques still face large uncertainties in general use due to highly varying conditions such as the temperature distribution within battery packs. In this work, a novel data-driven approach using deep-learning is applied to estimate SoC. It is found to accurately reconstruct the dependencies of SoC at a large range of ambient conditions. The proposed approach reduces uncertainties and achieves a highly accurate estimation with less than 1 % error in a wide temperature range (-25℃ to 45℃). Thus, it has the potential to make laboratory-scale accuracy available to real-world Electrical Vehicles operation. In future, the technique will be expanded to estimate battery degradation and predict the lifetime of batteries. As a result, the proposed methodology is expected to maximize the use of installed battery capacity or reduce the required battery capacity for a given vehicle range.  
2018 Award
2018
Award
Assistant Professor
Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics Graduate School of Engineering Kyoto University
Title of Research
Development of laser interferometry methods for high-speed and precise plasma electron-density diagnostics
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
Plasmas(*1) are ionized(*2) gases composed of electrons, ions and neutral particles. Plasmas generated in low-pressure gases with a thermal non-equilibrium feature have been widely utilized in semiconductor fabrication processes. Among various parameters and particles in the plasmas, electron density is crucial to understand their physical and chemical characteristics. Laser interferometry(*3) is a method to measure the electron density inside the plasmas. However, considering its application to advanced plasma processes, conventional interferometry arrangement has difficulties in spatiotemporal resolution and sensitivity of the electron density. Dr. Urabe has proposed and experimentally verified his idea of interferometry techniques, such as combination with millimeter wave transmission(*4) and near-infrared diode laser interferometry, in order to overcome the difficulties of the existing laser interferometry. In near future, it is expected that the developed laser interferometry will be integrated with semiconductor process equipment for continuous electron-density monitoring and fault detection. That can contribute to precise process optimization and yield improvement in the semiconductor fabrication processes. *1 The artificial state of gas where molecules are ionized by electronic power injection. *2 The transition of atom or molecule from electrically neutral mode to positively or negatively charged mode, which is called positive or negative “ion”. *3 The apparatus for material examination by analyzing interference pattern generated by two or more laser beams originating from the same source where reference beam and object beam are interfering. *4 A method of optical absorption spectroscopy irradiating a millimeter wave to plasma and measuring the absorption.
2018 Award
2018
Award
Assistant Professor
Plasma Nanotechnology Research Center Graduate School of Engineering Nagoya University
Title of Research
Development of substrate temperature monitoring system for high-accuracy plasma process
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
It is important to accurately measure and control the temperature of wafer in order to realize the reproducibility of the semiconductor devices at the atomic level. Even though it is necessary in the semiconductor manufacturing process, an accurate measurement of the wafer temperature, performed using an optical interferometer (*), has been extremely challenging due to various disturbances from others devices, such as vibrations. Having focused on a high degree of parallelism and high reflection of the wafer, Dr. Tsutsumi has proposed a novel approach to measure the temperature of wafers using the interference of lights reflected on front and back surfaces of the sample. His method, unlike the conventional one, uses a single path to drive the interfering light to the detector. His apparatus can consequently perform highly accurate temperature measurements with a strong robustness against vibrations. This technique enables high-accurate and high-speed temperature monitoring of the wafer during the process. Thus, the great contribution for improving the yield of manufacturing processes can be expected. * When a light beam is split from a single source and recombined hereafter, a phenomenon called “interference” occurs. The interfering light includes information such as the refractive index of a material or the length of the path that divided lights through.  
2018 Award
2018
Award
Senior Researcher
Research Center for Photovoltaics National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Title of Research
Detection of electronic defects in semiconductor thin-films during plasma processing
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
In semiconductor device fabrication, plasma processing technology is widely used for deposition/removal of thin-film materials on/from the wafer. The device performance is strongly influenced by the electronic properties of the films, so that it is necessary to precisely control the plasma processing to achieve high performance of devices. However, the impact of plasma processing on electronic properties of the films has not been elucidated. Dr. Nunomura has developed a technique for detecting electronic defects during plasma processing, by measuring the photocurrent(*) in the film under illumination of light at two different wavelengths. Using this in-situ real-time technique, he has successively demonstrated the generation and annihilation of electronic defects during the fabrication process. Although his research work is oriented towards the deposition process of amorphous silicon films for solar cells, it can also be applied to processes using other plasmas. * Photocurrent is the electronic current in the semiconductor materials, excited by illumination of light. The illumination of light generates free electron-hole pairs in semiconductors.
2018 Honorable Mention
2018
Honorable Mention
Senior Scientist
Chair for Plasma and Atomic Physics Ruhr University Bochum
Title of Research
Non-invasive plasma characterization through the ion velocity distribution function
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
Plasma characterization and control play a crucial role in semiconductor manufacturing and processing. In industrial environments it is very important but also challenging to obtain information on the plasma, e.g., types of ions, their density and flux etc., without disturbing it. Mass spectrometry is a non-invasive diagnostic method that can easily be applied under processing conditions. However, so far the diagnostic could deliver information only on the ionic parameters at the surface where the spectrometer is installed. Dr. Tsankov has proposed a novel idea for analyzing the ion velocity distribution function measured with an energy-resolved mass spectrometer. The idea is based on a solution of the Boltzmann equation (*) and allows multitude of plasma characteristics to be obtained not only at the surface but also in the volume of the plasma. Such a diagnostic method is extremely valuable for the semiconductor processing since it is inherently non-invasive. It is expected that the technique will provide a simple means for processing control and an easy way of plasma characterization. * An equation determining the velocity distribution of the particles.  
2017 Award
2017
Award
Associate Professor
Graduate School of Engineering Department of Applied Chemistry Kyushu University
Title of Research
Electrochemical and photometric sensing for some substances in environmental water
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
The pollution of environmental water and soil is still a worldwide concern. Therefore, simple measurement technologies which can be applied to the on-site checking of water safety are in demand. Focusing on ion transfer voltammetry, Dr. Ishimatsu has devised a measuring principle that enables the highly sensitive analysis of moderately hydrophilic anions in water. He has also developed "amperometric ion selective electrodes (ISEs)" which can simultaneously detect several kinds of cations in water with high-selectivity. Furthermore, by applying organic light-emitting diodes and organic photodiodes, he has established an analytical system that enables the detection of neutral substances as well. Non-ionic surfactants at the ppb-level are one of the examples of the detection, which are difficult to analyze with ion transfer voltammetry. Analytical systems, which he developed can be constructed in a compact housing and are expected to contribute globally on-site analysis of pollutants in waters.  
2017 Award
2017
Award
Senior Researcher
Biomedical Research Institute National Institute of Advanced Industrial, Science and Technology (AIST)
Title of Research
Development of sputtered nanocarbon film-based electrodes with extended analyte zones
Water Measurement
Water Measurement
Electrochemical measurement methods are a way to detect the analytes by measuring the current or potential on an electrode interface during a redox reaction. The electrochemical method is expected to be an easy and inexpensive way to test water quality; however, substances which can be detected by the method have been limited due to the narrow measurable potential range and insufficient sensitivity for trace substances. Using a nanocarbon film precisely designed, Dr. Kato has developed “sputtered nanocarbon film-based electrodes”. This electrode design enables the high-sensitivity detection of (bio)molecules such as nucleic-acid bases, antioxidants such as vitamin E, and arsenic ion. These materials are difficult to measure with conventional electrodes. His study has expanded the possibility of the use of electrochemical methods and is expected to be applied to many practical measurement devices. These could find application in various fields such as drinks, foods, environmental and biochemical substances. The new electrode attracts attention as a possible candidate for standardization of quantitation methods for the substances which are difficult to detect at conventional electrode.  
2017 Award
2017
Award
Associate Professor / Deputy Director of RILACS
Graduate School of Engineering Department of Applied Chemistry / Research Institute for Light-induced Acceleration System (RILACS) Osaka Prefecture University
Title of Research
Detection of bacteria in water based on a transferring technique of bacterial surface structure
Water Measurement
Water Measurement
It is important to prevent the spread of food poisoning and infection caused by pathogenic bacteria in order to protect the safety of food and drinking water. Conventional methods of bacterial identification usually take a few days and require complicated sample pretreatments and special technique for testing. Dr. Tokonami established a synthesis method of templates in which bacterial surface structures are transferred precisely. She developed a novel method of bacterial detection by combining the templates with dielectrophoresis which controls bacterial movement. This technique enabled rapid detection, which succeeded in reduction of time for measurements in comparison with preexisting methods. It is also remarkable that the templates show high specificity for respective bacteria. This method can be used as a bacterial detection system in the water treatment plant and the food industry where require strict hygiene control.  
2017 Honorable Mention
2017
Honorable Mention
Associate Professor
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Title of Research
Time-resolved photodegradation of natural colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and contaminants in fresh- and marine waters using a custom-designed photodegradation system
Water Measurement
Water Measurement
Dissolved organic matter is often measured as a representative indicator for surface and marine water quality because it influences many important biological and chemical processes. For the light absorbing colored or chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in water, photochemistry is one of the most important natural CDOM degradation mechanisms. Dr. Gonsior has recently developed an advanced photodegradation system that can achieve semi-continuous measurements of CDOM optical properties during illumination with precisely controlled solar simulated light. Using this custom-built system, he has investigated the photochemical decay of CDOM and pollutants in fresh- and marine waters. The results have shown for the first time kinetics of time-resolved optical property changes of CDOM and relationships between CDOM and other water quality indicators as a function of photodegradation. This evaluation method for dissolved organic matter, which is closely related to the environment and ecosystem well-being, is expected to provide important beneficial information about the conservation and improvement of water quality.  
2016 Award
2016
Award
Associate Professor
Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Hyogo
Title of Research
Fast 3-D Imaging of Human Body using Ultra-Wideband Radar
Water Measurement
Water Measurement
Three-dimensional imaging using ultra-wideband radar has a large potential as a technique for detecting objects, and has already been put to practical use in non-dynamic applications such as ground-penetrating testing.However, the technique has not been applied to self-driving car technology, mainly because of its excessive computational processing time for imaging. Dr. Sakamoto has developed a novel fast 3-D radar imaging method, called the SEABED method, which exploits the prior knowledge of targets.It has been demonstrated that the SEABED method can obtain a radar image 100 times faster than conventional radar imaging methods.In addition, the SEABED method has a high resolution, and thus human bodies can be clearly imaged. As a technique for detecting and recognizing pedestrians, the SEABED method is expected to contribute to realizing safe and reliable self-driving cars and transportation systems, with the protection of human lives being the top priority. * Ultra-wideband radar is a radio wave-based sensor that can measure objects in a short range with a high resolution. The advantage of ultra-wideband radar systems is that they can be used even under adverse conditions, such as the use at night or against backlight.  
2016 Award
2016
Award
Unit Leader, Associate Professor
Institute for Frontier Science Initiative, Future society creation core, Autonomous vehicle research unit, Kanazawa University
Title of Research
Development of high dependable localization method in order to realize fully automated vehicle in urban area
Self-Driving
Self-Driving
Autonomous driving in an urban area with complicated road environments needs both a high accuracy digital map and localization methods to estimate a vehicle's position precisely. Global navigation satellite system (GNSS), e.g. GPS, is often used as a practical localization method. However, for autonomous driving, GPS has problems in accuracy under certain conditions, such as high-rise areas or inside tunnels. Dr. Suganuma has developed a novel, GNSS-independent localization method called “High dependable localization method”. This method has achieved vehicle localization with an accuracy of about 14 centimeters, by comparing 2-dimentional orthoimages as a digital map and data from on-board sensors. In addition, the method requires less memory and computing power than conventional methods because smaller image data is applied. The productization approach and testing on public roads has already begun. A large contribution to safe and comfortable traveling and next generation mobility in the areas of venerability and depopulation is expected.  
2016 Award
2016
Award
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Title of Research
Shared Control in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Based on Risk Predictive Driving Intelligence Model
Self-Driving
Self-Driving
Autonomous vehicle technologies are expected to exhibit safety performance to avoid traffic accidents and to improve driver comfort as driving effort reduces. Recent driver assistance systems have reached their limits in specific situations. Dr.Pongsathorn Raksincharoensak proposes a motion planning and control system to enable a driver to operate a vehicle more safely with optimal reactive forces through the steering and pedals. Based on reference data from hazard anticipation testing of experienced drivers, this technology aims to minimize traffic accident risk. This technology is expected to be extended for the shared-control human-machine interface technology that is adaptable to individual characteristic of drivers and traffic situations. Such an example of this technology can be applied to interface design for robots and appliances.  
2016 Award
2016
Award
Project Researcher
Institute of Gerontology The University of Tokyo
Title of Research
Recognition of Driving Environment for Automated Driving by Lean Sensors
Self-Driving
Self-Driving
Driver assistance systems, based on automated driving technologies, are becoming more and more important for elderly drivers in the "Super-aged society". So far, most of the automated driving technologies have focused on highway driving and have frequently adopted high-cost sensors. It makes these technologies difficult to be practically applied as elderly driver assistants in the real world. By utilizing the combination of in-vehicle sensors and digital maps, Dr. Ito has developed a detection method for damaged road markings (e.g. stop lines, crosswalks, and speed-limit signs) on the community roads that are not always sufficiently maintained. The technology is featured with practicable sensors, such as in-vehicle cameras. Being applied to commercial vehicles, this technology is expected to contribute to energizing the Super-aged society by supporting the daily transportation of the elderly.  
2016 Award
2016
Award
Associate Professor
Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University
Title of Research
Ubiquitous Geospatial Positioning via Knowledge Discovery from Geographic Information Systems
Self-Driving
Self-Driving
The primary method for geolocalization is based on GPS which has issues of localization accuracy and unavailability. Dr. Yilmaz introduces a new geolocalization approach to GPS-denied indoor and outdoor environments. His approach has two principal components: public domain transport network data for outdoor and indoor available in GIS (Geographic Information System) databases; and trajectory data acquired from a mobile platform. This trajectory is estimated using inertial sensors or visual odometry. He abstracts the transport map information as a graph data structure, where various types of roads are modeled as graph edges and typically intersections are modeled as graph nodes. A search for the trajectory in real time in the graph yields the geolocation of the mobile platform. The approach uses a simple visual sensor and it has a low memory and computational footprint. Dr. Yilmaz's approach has the potential to completely augment, or even supplant, GPS based navigation since it functions ubiquitously in all environments.  
2015 Award
2015
Award
Associate Professor
Department of Macromolecular Science & Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology
Title of Research
Studies on Dynamics of Microsphere Suspensions by Means of Dynamic Ultrasound Scattering Technique
Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles
Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), which detects fluctuation of scattered light, is the widely-used method to measure the size or stability of nano particles dispersed in fluid.  However, it cannot be used for highly turbid suspensions since the light does not transmit. Associate Prof. Norisuye applies Dynamic Ultrasound Scattering (DSS), which utilizes ultrasound instead of light, to highly turbid suspensions, and lowers the detection limit from micron-order to tens of nano meters.  By splitting the ultrasound into many frequencies, dynamic structure of samples can be analyzed. This method is expected to be applied to the analysis of the structure and stability of turbid samples such as ink, slurry, or functional gel materials.
2015 Award
2015
Award
Assistant Professor
Department of Applied Chemistry for Environment, School of Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University
Title of Research
Efficient fluorescence collection of single nanoparticles using optical nanofibers
Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles
Detecting photons from a fluorescence nano particle called nanoemitter is the technique which is expected to have variety applications such as optical communication and metrology in bio engineering. But it has been difficult to gather photons from nanoemitters efficiently. Dr. Fujiwara succeeded in developing 300nm diameter tapered fiber (nanofiber) for the first time in the world and established the technique to couple/guide the photons from nanoemitters into the fiber efficiently. This new technique achieved 10 times higher efficiency than ever. His research is expected to be applied for novel sensing techniques in many fields including quantum information science and life science.
2015 Award
2015
Award
Designated Lecturer
ImPACT Research Center for Advanced Nanobiodevices, Nagoya University
Title of Research
Development of in vivo imaging diagnostic technique of transplanted stem cells by fluorescent measurement and elemental analysis of quantum dots
Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles
Stem cell transplantation plays a large role in regenerative medicine. The tracking of stem-cells is very essential after transplanted stem cells in vivo.  However since the transplanted cells is small, they are not detected by conventional modalities such as Roentgen, CT, MRI and etcetera.  Dr. Yukawa succeeded to transduce Quantum dots (QDs) into stem cells with high efficiency, to achieve a long-term quantitative tracking the transplanted cells by using QDs.  They can show the strong fluoresce in near-infrared region.  Furthermore he could track multi-transplanted cells by using QDs which are different wavelength of emission.  This study is expected to contribute transplantation techniques for stem cells which as represented by iPS cells. *Quantum dots (QDs): It is nanocrystal made of semiconductor material, has strong fluorescence, emission wavelength depended to length of radius, can be same excitated wavelength. *Stem cell: It is undifferentiated cells which can differentiate tissues, organs and etcetera. *in vivo: "within the living"
2015 Honorable Mention
2015
Honorable Mention
Associate Professor
Brick Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Title of Research
Raman spectroscopy and microscopy of graphene and other nanomaterials
Nanoparticles
Nanoparticles
Graphene is a promising nano-carbon material, and investigation of its physical properties is essential for its practical use. To evaluate the physical properties of the graphene itself and electronic products made of graphene, Dr. Chen has developed specialized Raman microscopic systems combined with temperature and pressure control units and electronic transport setup.  He has successfully observed the growth mechanism during the CVD process and studied the electronic and phononic properties of graphene. Also, he has succeeded in making high-quality, large-scale graphene, graphene single crystals and the twisted bilayer graphene, all of which have shown to be promising for incorporating into electronic devices. In the near future, his research that now focuses on the development of graphene with higher quality and improved properties is expected to contribute to the practical use of the grapheme and the studies of other nanomaterials.
2014 Award
2014
Award
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego
Title of Research
High sensitivity chemical ionization mass spectrometry for the direct measurement of exchange and reaction at the ocean surface
Gas Measurement
Gas Measurement
It is very important for the prevention of air pollution to understand the production and reaction mechanisms of various pollutants in the air. The chemistry at the ocean surface is becoming increasingly important to the overall understanding of our atmosphere. For on-site measurement of trace gases in air, quadrupole mass spectrometers (QMS) which ionize substances and separate them by their mass with AC and DC voltage are commonly used for their measurement. However, conventional QMS instruments lack the required mass resolution and sensitivity to study reaction mechanisms of nitrogen oxides at the ocean surface. Dr. Bertram has worked on the development of a novel measurement technique for studying the reaction of nitrogen oxides at the sea surface. This system consists of chemical ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (CI-TOFMS) which ionize substances by chemical reaction, separates them by their flight time for accurate, fast measurement. Based on direct measurement with the system in the field he has suggested that the ocean surface plays a critical role in nitrogen oxides reactions This study will enable us to understand the underlying mechanisms of phenomena in the air and lead to much improved understanding and more accurate predictions about the atmospheric environment.
2014 Award
2014
Award
Associate Professor
Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Systems, Saitama University
Title of Research
Study of high-resolution spectroscopy using frequency tunable gigahertz optical frequency comb
Gas Measurement
Gas Measurement
Optical spectroscopy is a powerful technique for the material investigation. By increasing both the range and the sampling pitch of the light frequency, it becomes possible to measure a wider variety of materials at greater detail. Recently, an optical frequency comb* has drawn attention as an attractive technique to achieve such a measurement. In conventional spectroscopy, the optical frequency comb has discrete and constant frequencies which limit the measurement frequencies. Dr. Shioda developed a novel technique which is used to broaden the frequency interval of the comb about one hundred times over a conventional comb. This is accomplished by adopting a different generation mechanism for the optical frequencies. In addition, all the frequencies lying in the comb teeth intervals can be exploited by applying a method used in the field of optical communication which enables to change the frequencies continuously. This new technique enables spectroscopic measurements with broader frequency range and narrower frequency pitch. This technological innovation will facilitate real time analysis of complicated gas mixtures such as automobile exhausts and industrial processes. * Optical frequency comb consists of a light source of various frequency components with very precise frequency intervals. The name comes from the comb-like appearance where the discrete frequencies resemble the teeth on a comb. This technique was awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize in physics as a promising technique for applications requiring precise spectroscopic measurements.
2014 Award
2014
Award
Associate Professor
Dept. of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University
Title of Research
Continuous concentration measurements of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere with high accuracy
Gas Measurement
Gas Measurement
Concentrations of atmospheric NO2 are monitored by a chemiluminescence detection technique (CLD*1). NO2 is converted to NO by the converter*2 and then the NO is detected by the CLD. In order to monitor NO2 concentrations more accurately, Dr. Sadanaga developed two instruments based on a selective photolytic NO2 converter to NO using UV light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a light emitting diode induced fluorescence technique (LED-IF*3). Dr. Sadanaga is also performed long-term continuous monitoring of NO2 using the instrument for practical use. The NO2 monitoring systems with high accuracy are expected to clarify the chemical mechanisms of gaseous components in the atmosphere such as ozone and acid species. *1) The method to obtain NO concentrations by measuring light intensity emitted by the reaction of NO with O3.*2) The unit for converting NO2 into NO.*3) The method to obtain NO2 concentrations by measuring light intensity emitted from excited NO2 molecules. The excited NO2 molecules are formed by irradiating NO2 molecules with a blue LED light.
2014 Honorable Mention
2014
Honorable Mention
European Union Marie Curie Fellow
Dept. of Chemical Engineering, University of Chambridge
Title of Research
Nonlinear tomography: a new imaging theory for combustion diagnostics
Gas Measurement
Gas Measurement
"Tomography" is a technique for obtaining internal information of the target to be measured, for example, CT scans on a patient in a hospital. Application of tomography to gas concentration measurement will aid in determining the spatial distributions of gas concentrations. However, there is a deviation between the real distribution and that obtained by "normal" tomography, this is because the latter is obtained on the condition that other parameters such as pressure is held constant. Also, only one component can be obtained with limited sensitivity because of the limited available measurement techniques. Dr. Cai suggested combining "nonlinear tomography" with the latest laser gas measuring techniques to enable the simultaneous spatial distribution analysis of the multiple parameters including temperature, pressure, and concentration of several gas components. This will provide a complete picture of gas concentration distributions with high sensitivity. By using this technique, in a rapidly changing, inhomogeneous environment, such as found within an engine, the distribution of temperature, pressure, and gas concentration of trace components will be measureable. Such a tool will bring great benefit to the combustion industry such as automotive industry.
2013 Award
2013
Award
Professor
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science Division I, Tokyo University of Science
Title of Research
Development of Novel Measurement Methods for Aqueous Solutions utilizing Electrons and Their Applications
Water Measurement
Water Measurement
Raman spectroscopy, which is a kind of laser spectroscopy, is a useful analytical tool to identify molecular structures. But with liquid samples, it is difficult to develop industrial applications because the signal is very weak. Prof. Yui discovered a new Raman enhancement phenomenon, named electron-enhanced Raman scattering, which enhances the Raman scattering intensity by up to 100,000 times, utilizing electron effect generated by irradiating strong laser pulse into an aqueous sample. The discovery led him to the development of a new analytical technique that can measure Raman spectra by only one shot of irradiation, even under a strong background. This new method analyzes microscopic structures and properties of such samples as surface of aqueous solutions and “super-critical water”. It is expected to be applied to the continuous online measurements of various aqueous samples, such as rinse water at the semiconductor production site, cooling water of power plants and running water in the environment.
2013 Award
2013
Award
Project Research Associate
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Keio University
Title of Research
Selective sensing system based on electrode design using boron-doped diamond
Water Measurement
Water Measurement
Diamond becomes conductive by adding boron atoms, though it is generally an insulator material.  Electrodes with boron-doped diamond detect more kinds of substances of lower concentration level compared to conventional electrodes such as those with platinum or gold.  But selectivity for a target substance is still a challenge which usually requires troublesome pre-treatment to remove interfering species. Dr. Watanabe developed novel selective detection systems with unique electrode configuration using boron-doped diamond, based on the concept of controlling diffusion of the substances. This methodology has high potential for the detection of heavy metals in the environment and will contribute to realize practical pretreatment-free portable sensors.
2013 Award
2013
Award
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, USA
Title of Research
Fast-scan Cyclic Voltammetry for Continuous, Ultra-Fast Measurements of Trace Metals in Natural Water Systems
Water Measurement
Water Measurement
An in-situ analytical device providing a continuous measurement output is needed to investigate the dynamic behavior of trace metal pollution in natural water systems. While electrochemistry has shown promise for this goal in the past, it has been limited by its temporal resolution, stability and concerns about Hg-electrode toxicity. Dr. Hashemi has recently developed a novel electrochemical technique called “trace metal fast-scan cyclic voltammetry”, which can perform Hg free, sub-second, real-time analysis of harmful metals such as Cu and Pb ion at carbon fiber microelectrodes. This technique can be expanded to measure other trace metals such as As and Cr, and to realize a hand-held device for simultaneous multiple metal measurements, which would give invaluable information to use metal mitigation systems more efficiently and greatly aid sustainable, clean natural water resources.
2013 Honorable Mention
2013
Honorable Mention
Associate Professor
Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University
Title of Research
Electrophoresis for determination of ultratrace heavy metal ions in radioactive wastes and environmental microbes using novel fluorescent probes
Water Measurement
Water Measurement
Electrophoresis is a separation method that utilizes the difference in ionic mobility in an electric field. This method is widely used for separation analysis by combining with detectors such as fluorescence detector and optical absorption detector and others. No method, however, provides high sensitivity sufficient for heavy metal ions in environmental water. Dr. Saito has developed novel fluorescent probes that strongly bind with target heavy metal ions, which show no quenching of emission during binding. Then he developed new electrophoresis methods that highly separate and detect the emissive metal-probe species. In his method, hazardous heavy metal ions such as lead and actinide* ions can be analyzed with ultra-high sensitivity on the order of ppt, with only a small amount of sample. It is expected to be applied to heavy metal ion analysis in water samples including radioactive-contaminated waste water.  * Heavy metal elements with the atomic numbers from 89 to 103, including radioactive uranium and plutonium, are categorized as "actinide" series.
2012 Award
2012
Award
Team Leader
National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS)
Title of Research
Open PET leading to joint cancer diagnosis and radiotherapy
Radioactivity Measurement
Radioactivity Measurement
Positron emission tomography (PET) and radiotherapy are used independently for cancer diagnosis and treatment. By combining the two, Dr. Yamaya proposed a concept of new open-type PET geometry, "OpenPET", which can perform radiotherapy simultaneously with PET diagnostic imaging, by remarkably opening up physical spaces.  With an advanced 3D radiation detector which his group had previously developed to improve PET resolution, he succeeded to construct prototype systems which have enough gaps to irradiate a radiotherapy treatment beam to a patient. He has also verified new image processing techniques which can be utilized in an integrated system for radiotherapy. OpenPET has a large potential for innovative cancer therapies, such as "radiotherapy while in-situ cancer observation by PET." * PET:Positron emission tomography is a diagnostic imaging technique, which detects radiations emitted form tracer substances within patient body and constructs 3D images by computer processing. 
2012 Award
2012
Award
Assistant Professor
Nagoya University Graduate School of Science
Title of Research
Research and Development of fully automated Nuclear Emulsion read-out system and its applications
Radioactivity Measurement
Radioactivity Measurement
Nuclear Emulsion is a radiation detector which has three dimensional position resolution of sub-micron. It has high resolution but had not been for practical use due to its too long read-out time. Dr. Nakano succeeded in developing a practical automated emulsion read-out system in 1994 for the first time in the world. He continues to accelerate the read-out speed by improving the system structure and image processing technique. He has achieved the world's fastest read-out speed, which is about 10000 times faster than that of his first system. The system is actively contributing to the research in neutrino events. In the future, it is also expected to apply to the investigation of inner structure of volcano or nuclear reactor.
2012 Award
2012
Award
Associate Professor
Tohoku University Graduate school of Engineering
Title of Research
Development of Scintillation Materials having Nanoscale Structure
Radioactivity Measurement
Radioactivity Measurement
Scintillators are materials which emit light when being irradiated with ionizing radiation. Due to their high sensitivity and fast response, they are widely used as radiation detectors in various applications ranging from fundamental scientific research to environmental monitoring. However, improvement in the response time is highly difficult in the case of conventional approach. Dr. Koshimizu developed novel scintillation materials having a nanoscale structure. One such example is semiconductor nanostructures which emit free exciton luminescence. His approach can pave the way to synthesize high-quality scintillation materials by controlling the high-order structure, and open up a possibility in fabricating next-generation scintillation materials with fast response.
2012 Honorable Mention
2012
Honorable Mention
Research and Development Associate
Physics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Title of Research
Development of the Oak Ridge Rutgers University Barrel Array - a detector for studying the single-particle structure of exotic nuclei
Radioactivity Measurement
Radioactivity Measurement
Exotic nuclei with an excess of neutrons are unstable, but play a crucial role in the production of the stable elements found on Earth.   However, due to their short lifetimes, it is difficult to study their structures and properties.   Dr. Pain and colleagues in Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Rutgers University are taking up the challenge.   In their method, the exotic heavy nuclei produced at an accelerator collides with deuterium, using the inverse kinematics technique.   In the collision, protons are ejected with wide range of angles and energies, carrying information on the exotic heavy nucleus.   Dr. Pain developed a unique barrel array detect or with large solid angular acceptance, which can successfully detect the proton ejectiles.   Studying the properties of exotic nuclei is important for understanding the astrophysical production of elements heavier than iron, in exotic sites such as supernova and neutron-star mergers.
2011 Award
2011
Award
Senior Research Scientist
RIKEN
Title of Research
Spectroscopic Analyses of Liquid Surfaces
Electromagnetic Waves
Electromagnetic Waves
Four referees nominated him within TOP3 as the most distinguished research of all.   His application field covers both material aspect and biological aspect, which are the subject of this years' awards.
2011 Award
2011
Award
Chief Researcher
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
Title of Research
Clarification of Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering Mechanism and its Application to Real-time Analysis of Bio-related Molecules on Living Cells
Electromagnetic Waves
Electromagnetic Waves
He has successfully improved the surface enhanced raman spectroscopy as a reliable measurement technology for sensitive detection of biological substances based on the theory and fundamental aspect of the principle, who has never achieved in these 30 years. His attitude of approaching the theoretical aspect is also highly evaluated in terms of the intent of the award, which spotlights the research to explore the basis of the measurement and analytical technology.
2011 Award
2011
Award
Assistant Professor
Nagoya University
Title of Research
Development of Ultrasensitive and Rapid Analysis Methods by Combining Laser Spectroscopy and Microdevice
Electromagnetic Waves
Electromagnetic Waves
He has effectively utilized the μTAS technology for the innovation of measurement technology. Especially, his contribution in improving practical applicability of TLM is highly evaluated. In addition, he has achieved the ultra-sensitive measurement in real blood sample.
2011 Honorable Mention
2011
Honorable Mention
Researcher
Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique
Title of Research
Label-free Cell-based Biosensors & Biochips: a Gold Mine Toward Diagnostic and Food Safety Issues?
Electromagnetic Waves
Electromagnetic Waves
He has published many papers and has developed the prototype instrument though he is the youngest applicant among those evaluated by any of the referees.
2010 Award
2010
Award
Researcher
Institute for Laser Technology
Title of Research
Development of the White Light Lidar using a High Power Femtosecond Laser System
Internal Combustion Engine
Internal Combustion Engine
Dr. Somekawa's research applied ultra-short plus laser technology to the remote measurement of air quality. His work demonstrates the potential to environmentally monitor a wide variety of species over very large areas. Dr. Somekawa specifically developed a compact white light detection and ranging (lidar) spurce that enables practical remote sensing of the environment.
2010 Award
2010
Award
Assistant Professor
Electrical Engineering Department,Princeton University
Title of Research
Ultra-sensitive in-situ molecular detection of reactive chemicals based on laser dispersion effects
Internal Combustion Engine
Internal Combustion Engine
Dr. Wysocki has developed quantum cascade laser (QCL) based analytical instrumentation combined with a detection species. The compact instrument was developed for incorporation into wireless sensor networks for trace gases. Dr. Wysocki's study has potential for wide-area monitoring systems of ambient air.
2010 Award
2010
Award
Professor
Tokyo Metropolitan University
Title of Research
OH reactivity measurement by laser pump and probe technique and its application to diagnosis of air quality
Internal Combustion Engine
Internal Combustion Engine
The study of Dr. Kajii focused on the quantitative determination of unidentified reactive trace chemical species by measuring the decay of artificially generated hydroxyl (OH) radicals. The proposed research has direct on the huge problem of automobile exhaust emissions.
2009 Award
2009
Award
Assistant Professor
Department of Physics, University of Oviedo
Title of Research
Development and Evaluation of an Innovative “Soft Ionization Technique” based on Atmospheric Pressure Glow Discharges Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (AP-GD-TOFMS) for the Determination of Inorganic/organic Contaminants on Semiconductor Surfaces
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
2009 Award
2009
Award
Group Leader
National Institute for Materials Science
Title of Research
A challenge in ultra-trace analysis by X-ray fluorescence- Instrumentation of novel efficient wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectrometer and the application to TXRF experiments with brilliant synchrotrons
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
2009 Award
2009
Award
Research Associate
Yokohama National University
Title of Research
Study of O2, NO and CO reaction processes on silicon surfaces by means of surface differential reflectance and reflectance difference spectroscopy
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
2009 Honorable Mention
2009
Honorable Mention
P.h.D candidate(JSPS research fellow (DC2))
Kyoto University
Title of Research
The Development of a Portable Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer with Picogram Sensitivity
Semiconductor
Semiconductor
2008 Award
2008
Award
Lecturer in Residence
Department of Mechanical Engineering Informatics, Meiji University
Title of Research
Laser Diagnostics of Soot Formation Processes in Diesel Spray Flame
Gas Measurement
Gas Measurement
2008 Award
2008
Award
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta
Title of Research
A new instrument to measure the mass of nano-particles from an internal combustion engine.
Gas Measurement
Gas Measurement
2008 Award
2008
Award
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Title of Research
Simultaneous Imaging of Exhaust Gas Residuals and Temperature During HCCI Combustion
Gas Measurement
Gas Measurement
2008 Honorable Mention
2008
Honorable Mention
Assistant Professor
Okayama University
Title of Research
Development of In-Situ Fuel/Residual Gas Concentration Measurement near Spark Plug
Gas Measurement
Gas Measurement
2007 Award
2007
Award
Associate Professor
Kyoto Institute of Technology
Title of Research
Development of technique and system for three-dimensional measurement of moving cells by means of parallel digital holographic microscopy
Biological Particles
Biological Particles
2007 Award
2007
Award
Group Leader
Extremobiosphere Research Center, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology(JAMSTEC)
Title of Research
Probing for Dynamics of Membrane and Membrane Proteins Using Hydrostatic Pressure
Biological Particles
Biological Particles
2007 Award
2007
Award
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University
Title of Research
Rapid Analysis of Individual T-Lymphocyte Cells on Microfluidic Devices
Biological Particles
Biological Particles
2006 Award
2006
Award
Senior Scientist
XAFS-Spectroscopy team leader, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute(JASRI)
Title of Research
Development of SR-microbeam in high-energy X-ray region and its application to X-ray fluorescence analysis
X-Ray
X-Ray
2006 Award
2006
Award
Associate Professor
Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women’s University
Title of Research
Development of new spectroscopic methods using resonant inelastic X-ray scattering
X-Ray
X-Ray
2006 Award
2006
Award
University of Antwerp
Title of Research
X-ray based speciation of major and trace constituents in heterogeneous materials of environmental and cultural heritage origin
X-Ray
X-Ray
2006 Honorable Mention
2006
Honorable Mention
Professor
Tokyo University of Science
Title of Research
System Development on Early Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
X-Ray
X-Ray
2005 Award
2005
Award
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, Kwansei-Gakuin University
Title of Research
Study of C-H…O Hydrogen Bond for Biodegradable Polymer using Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction -Role of the “Weak Hydrogen Bond” toward Crystal Structure Stabilization and Thermal Behavior-
Infrared
Infrared
2005 Award
2005
Award
Associated Professor
College of Industrial Technology, Nihon University
Title of Research
Multiple-Angle Incidence Resolution Spectrometry: Development of a Measurement Technique Using a Concept of Virtual Light
Infrared
Infrared
2005 Award
2005
Award
Associated Professor
Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University
Title of Research
Near-field vibrational spectroscopy
Infrared
Infrared
2005 Honorable Mention
2005
Honorable Mention
University of Nottingham
Title of Research
Development of infrared spectroscopy analyzer with high time resolution (picosecond) peformance.
Infrared
Infrared
2004 Award
2004
Award
Research Associate
Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University
Title of Research
Development of Apparatus for Potentiometric pH Measurement for Supercritical Aqueous Solutions
pH
pH
2004 Award
2004
Award
Professor, Director of Frontier Institute for Biomolecular Engineering Research (FIBER) and Professor of Chemistry
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University
Title of Research
Development of pH sensor in a cell using DNAs as nanomaterials
pH
pH
2004 Award
2004
Award
Research Engineer
Environmental Science Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
Title of Research
Development of an ISFET Sensor for In-situ pH Measurement in the Ocean
pH
pH