Tokyo Tech hosts AEARU 6th Energy and Environmental Workshop

Published: November 14, 2016

Tokyo Tech hosted the Association of East Asian Research Universities (AEARU) 6th Energy and Environmental Workshop on its Ookayama and Suzukakedai Campuses on August 26 and 27, 2016. Focused on solar energy-related technologies and next-generation solar cells, the workshop involved researchers and graduate students from AEARU member universities, including Tokyo Tech, and Dr. Joey Luther of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the United States, serving as the keynote speaker.

Established in 1996 to provide a forum for exchange between East Asia's leading research-oriented universities, AEARU is comprised of 18 member universities from Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Program

Day 1: Lectures (Ookayama Campus, West Building 9, Multi-purpose Digital Hall)
Day 2: Poster session and lab tours (Suzukakedai Campus, Suzukake Hall, Lounge)

Day 1: Lectures

The AEARU 6th Energy and Environmental Workshop opened with welcome remarks by Tokyo Tech President Yoshinao Mishima. Keynote speaker Dr. Joey Luther, senior research scientist at NREL, then described his research on quantum dot solar cells and perovskite solar cells. Lectures by researchers from AEARU member universities, represented by the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Tsinghua University, KAIST and Tokyo Tech, covered research in a broad range of next-generation solar cell technologies, including organic thin film solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells, and silicone solar cells. Approximately 30 individuals, including researchers from outside Tokyo Tech and company representatives, attended the first day of the workshop and participated in the lively Q&A sessions that followed each lecture.

President Mishima delivering opening remarks

Keynote speaker Dr. Luther of NREL

Lecture Program

Opening Remarks	President Yoshinao Mishima, Tokyo Tech
Keynote Speech	"The Future Generation of Photovoltaics Employing Low-Cost, High Efficiency, Solution-Processed Active Layers" Dr. Joey Luther, Senior Research Scientist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Lectures	"Solution-Processable Hybrid Solar Cells Based on Colloidal Quantum Dots" Dr. Takaya Kubo Project Professor, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo "Our Chemical Approaches Towards Highly Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells" Dr. Atsushi Wakamiya Associate Professor, Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University "Working from Both Sides: Composite Metallic Semitransparent Top Electrode for High Performance Perovskite Solar Cells" Dr. Hong Lin Professor, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University "Polymer Semiconductor Nanofiber Network for Efficient Organic Photovoltaics" Dr. Hidetoshi Matsumoto Associate Professor, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Tech "Effects of Post-synthesis Thermal Conditions on Methylammonium Lead Halide Perovskite: Band Bending at Grain Boundaries and Its Impact on Solar Cell Performance" Dr. Byungha Shin Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, KAIST "Band-gap Tuning of Nanostructured ZnO and/or Ag-In-Zn-S for Hybrid Inorganic-Organic Solar Cells" Dr. Takashi Sagawa Professor, Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University "Plasmonic and Si Nanostructured Solar Cells" Dr. Manabu Ihara Professor, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Tech "Elucidating the Structure-Property Relationships of Donor-π-Acceptor Dyes for DSSCs through Rapid Library Synthesis" Dr. Shinichiro Fuse Associate Professor, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Tech "Perovskite Solar Cells Created in the Research of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells — Similarities and Differences" Dr. Yuji Wada Professor, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Tech

Presentations by Dr. Kubo (left), Dr. Wakamiya (center), Dr. Lin (right)

Presentations by Dr. Matsumoto (left), Dr. Shin (center), Dr. Sagawa (right)

Presentations by Dr. Ihara (left), Dr. Fuse (center), and Dr. Wada (right)

Day 2: Poster session and lab tours

Poster session

Graduate students from AEARU member universities presented research related to environment and energy in a poster session held on Tokyo Tech's Suzukakedai Campus. Researchers and students engaged in active discussions on their research, and awards were presented for the best posters. Participants then joined lab tours of the Kanno Lab and the Tomita Lab at the School of Materials and Chemical Technology. Representatives of the host labs introduced their research and facilities, and exchanged information and ideas with the workshop participants.

Though the 21st century has been termed "the Asian century" due to Asia's rapid population growth and economic development, the region faces various energy and environmental challenges that have accompanied its economic development. It is hoped that the region will assume a central role in offering solutions to energy and environmental issues and implement measures that will contribute to sustainable growth in harmony with the environment.

Lab tour

Poster award ceremony

The AEARU 6th Energy and Environmental Workshop offered a timely opportunity to deepen research exchanges between AEARU member universities in the specific area of energy-related technologies and next-generation solar cells.

It also provided the next generation of Asian researchers an opportunity to network with peers from abroad and gain exposure to the latest research.

Organizers of the workshop hope the connections created through the two-day event will facilitate new collaborations among established researchers and inspire AEARU's young researchers to tackle complex energy and environmental issues with innovative technologies for a sustainable future.