Some organic materials can act as inorganic semiconductors (Si), for example, fullerene, conjugated polymers, and phthalocyanine small molecules. The organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and Organic field-effect transistor (OFET) are developed for next-generation semiconductor device electronics because of the low manufacturing cost performance, lightweight, and flexibility.  These devices have already been put into practical use. Solar cells based on organic small molecules and conjugated polymers materials are also expected to be low-cost alternatives to conventional inorganic (Si) solar cells. Undoubtedly, therefore, organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells and perovskite solar cells (PSC) have a bright future in both scientific research and industrial application. The potential to be widely used in the future and can contribute to preventing global warming. The main advantage is that organic materials allow the development of thin, lightweight, colorful, and flexible solar cells. For that reason, small-scale applications, such as for indoor use and mobile power systems, could put organic solar cells to practical use as ubiquitous solar cells in the near future.  Of course, our dream (our final target) is large scale power plants based on OPV modules.  We believe organic material has a high affinity to agriculture as shown in the below figure. In the future, we hope to develop a greenhouse based on our OPV modules to produce both crops and electronic power.
 

Two types of OPV cells and organic-inorganic hybrid solar cell (perovskite solar cell) are investigated in our Laboratory, polymer based OPV cell for wet-process and OPV cell based on small-molecules for dry-process. We provide world-top class facilities for the device fabrication (from bare glass to OPV device) and characterization. You can select the favorite way to research subject and of course, you can do any other research in advanced organic electronics. You, no matter who wants to work and study in the frontiers in science, no matter the background (physics, chemistry, organic, inorganic and so on) you have learned, are welcome to join us.

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みなさん、有機でできた製品って何をイメージしますか？
農作物、食料、紙、繊維、プラスチック、ビニールですかね。身近なところではペットボトルだと思います。このプラスチックボトルが生まれたのは４０年程前で、それまでは重たいガラス瓶や缶を使っていたそうです。想像できますか？瓶入りのジュースを（今でもアルヨ）。何はともあれ、軽くて、柔らかく、安価なプラスチックボトルの登場で、流通コストも下がり、一石何鳥もの効果があるのです。世の中は、無機から有機へ変化しているのを感じていますか？

新エネルギーとして期待されている太陽電池って知ってまか？
太陽電池はシリコンや無機材料でできており、数兆円の市場を形成しています。無機材料でできた太陽電池は大変重く、屋根に載せるもの運ぶのも大変です。想像してください、有機でできた太陽電池を。軽くて、柔らかくて、安い太陽電池ならば、今の太陽電池では想像できない用途が広がるでしょう。窓、ビニールハウス、工場の屋根、モバイルガジェットなどなんでもアリです。

そんな研究をしています。

有機でいろいろ作りたい。ＬＥＤから有機ＥＬ、シリコントランジスタから有機トランジスタ、モーターから有機アクチュエーター、はたまた圧電・熱電素子まで有機にならないかと妄想しながら研究を進めています。

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