2018 6 International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA) Controlling nanoscale order Architectonics connecting nanomaterials with macro materials International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA) Controlling nanoscale order Architectonics connecting nanomaterials with macro materials NIMS NOW NIMS NOW 02 One-billionth-of-a-millimeter nanomaterials—atomic-scale in diameter and thickness 03 2018 No.6 2018 No.6 —come in a variety of forms, including nanoparticles, nanosheets and nanotubes. Only close examination can reveal the unique, nanoscale-specific behavior of these materials. The properties of nanomaterials have fascinated and inspired many scientists, leading to rapid advances in nanotechnology. The International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA) was established in 2007 to accelerate nanotechnological research and development. MANA has attained world-class status in the application of nanotechnology NANO to materials science as a result of implementing its 10-year plan. Having made many significant research achievements, MANA is now ready for even more advanced challenges. MANA operates under solid guiding principles. Its twofold mission is to create highly functional nanoarchitectures by actively assembling and cross-linking nanomaterial components and to build novel physics knowledge through basic research. ARCHITE Nanoscale order can be achieved in countless ways, e.g., by varying the combinations of or stacking methods for nanomaterial components and by identifying unique and stable properties using mathematical concepts. The unknown nano-functions that await discovery are potentially as abundant as unknown nano-forms. CTONICS NIMS NOW NIMS NOW 04 05 2018 No.6 2018 No.6 Takuzo Aida Takayoshi Sasaki Professor Director Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) School of Engineering National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) University of Tokyo The NIMS International Center Techniques to connect sic research performed at MANA can great- metals and organics. In addition, active re- noarchitectonic products. nanosheets. This idea inspired me to en- for Materials Nanoarchitectonics nanomaterials and macro materials ly contribute to this endeavor. search efforts have been made on one-di- Aida: I believe you are referring to a hydro- gage in a joint research with Dr. Sasaki. (MANA) was launched in 2007 with Aida: Advances in nanoscience have mensional materials, such as carbon nano- gel, which was developed in 2015. This is a At that time, my lab had just acquired a the support of the World Premier Sasaki: MANA is alone among NIMS’ made the fabrication of organic nanomate- tubes, three-dimensional materials, such as very unique material: this soft material is superconducting magnet. A postdoctoral International Research Center seven research centers and divisions spe- rials relatively easy. However, little at- nanoparticles, and then two-dimensional tolerant against a vertical compression researcher in my lab used the magnet to ap- Initiative (WPI Program) run by cialized for basic research. “Nanoarchitec- tempt has been made to develop funda- materials, such as graphene. force, but it deforms easily and drastically ply a magnetic field to water containing ti- the Ministry of Education, Culture, tonics” is a concept proposed by MANA: mental science to elaborate mesoscale As you mentioned earlier, the most im- in response to a horizontal shear force. tanium oxide nanosheets. As a result, all of Sports, Science and Technology. creation of materials with novel functions structures: intermediate structures in scale portant and difficult challenges in nanoar- This anisotropic hydrogel was derived the nanosheets neatly lined up in parallel in Takayoshi Sasaki became MANA’s by assembling or specifically organizing between nano and macroscopic size re- chitectonics are the development of meth- from an “aqua material” developed in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic new Director in 2017 to continue to nano-sized materials (or nanomaterials). gimes. A current challenge in polymer ods of synthesizing nanomaterials uniform 2010. Although the water content of the flux lines. Adjacent nanosheets were always fulfill its mission. University of Tokyo Rapid progress of electronics and informa- chemistry—my area of expertise—is the in shape and size and of precisely organiz- aqua material is greater than 98%, it is separated by a gap due to mutual electro- Professor Takuzo Aida is a leader tion/communication technology as well as development of fundamental science to fill ing them. These challenges represent the very strong mechanically. The material static repulsion. The researcher then al- in polymer chemistry in Japan. the deteriorating environmental and energy this missing link. essence of nanoarchitectonics. Addressing can be readily prepared by mixing togeth- lowed the nanosheet suspension to gelati- Sasaki and Aida discussed the situations have led to the growing demand Sasaki: Nanomaterial research has them could allow us to discover novel er natural clay mineral sheets and two nize in a manner similar to konjac jelly, re- current status and future prospects for miniaturization, weight reduction and evolved from the initial discovery of functions. types of polymers in water. Although the sulting in the creation of a new anisotropic of “nanoarchitectonics,” a concept increased efficiency of various devices. fullerenes and carbon nanotubes in the You developed a novel material containing aqua material has many useful properties, material (anisotropic hydrogel) in which the proposed by MANA. Materials used in these technologies there- 1980s and 1990s to the development of titanium oxide nanosheets (see p. 12), a ma- I thought that an even more innovative ma- nanosheets are only allowed to slide hori- fore need to be more compact, highly func- nanomaterials in a wider range of com- terial I studied for many years. I think this terial could be created by replacing the zontally. I think that this new material pro- tional or multifunctional. I believe that ba- pound classes, such as oxides, nitrides, exemplifies the practical application of na- clay mineral sheets with titanium oxide vides an excellent example to show what exciting things happen if the missing link vates us to create innovative materials. Field and the Nano-System Field. A third ities. Computer Go programs are certainly Aida. MANA currently has approximately during basic research conducted at between the nano and mesoscopic size re- When we encounter unexpected or acciden- field—the Nano-Theory Field—was newly capable of advanced learning based on the 200 researchers, which represent about a MANA, the subject matter is transferred gimes is filled. tal events during our research, we should added to MANA three years ago. It was ar- rules of Go, but humans, as the inventers quarter of the total number of NIMS re- from MANA to a NIMS mission-oriented Sasaki: After the development of anisotro- find them interesting and actively pursue ranged that a majority of the computational of Go, have immense creative abilities. searchers. MANA researchers engage in a research center to advance it to the applied pic hydrogel, your lab’s extremely talented their causes. An interdisciplinary approach scientists at NIMS would join the Nano-The- For this reason, it is very important for us wide variety of research. They fabricate research stage. Many of the researchers at researchers have produced a variety of new to research is also important and our joint ory Field in an effort to integrate the theoret- to train young researchers. We particular- various types of materials, such as nanow- the Center for Functional Sensors and Ac- materials. All are very creative, including research really confirmed this point. ical and experimental approaches. Our ly need researchers capable of coming up ires, nanosheets, nanoporous materials and tuators, which was established in July “photonic water” capable of changing color Aida: Basic research should always be a method is to first make predictions regard- with their own ideas and acting inde- supramolecular materials, which may be 2018, were trained at MANA. This is a when the orientation of and intervals be- vigorous scientific activity, like producing ing new materials and new physical proper- pendently in order for Japan’s materials applicable to next-generation electronics good example of MANA’s contribution to tween nanosheets in water are altered by the something from scratch. ties using theoretical and computational ap- science to remain strong in the future. and energy technologies. In addition, they NIMS as a whole. application of an external force, such as heat. proaches and then to verify these predictions Sasaki: That issue needs to be addressed fabricate a large variety of different devic- Aida: Practical application of new materi- Aida: Because researchers sometimes Power of computational science experimentally. We hope this combined cooperatively between educational insti- es, from atomic switches to odor sensors. als takes 20 to 30 years after their discov- make discoveries by accident, I do not mind and human capabilities method produces many successes. tutions—namely, universities—and na- MANA has also produced positive results ery. It is important for future basic materi- mistakes by researchers in my lab. When My hobby is to play the game of Go. I was tional research institutions, such as NIMS in the development of