Material Science toward Achieving Carbon Neutrality

Prof. Takayuki Ichikawa, Hiroshima University, Japan

13:30-14:30, September 13, 2023

Room 308, Xu Zuyao Building

Biography

Takayuki Ichikawa was born on April 16, 1974 in Okayama, Japan. In 2002, he obtained PhD from Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University in the field of theoretical physics, then immediately he joined in the School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University as research associate. At this time, he started the research and development in the field of hydrogen energy. In 2003, his affiliation was changed to natural science center for basic research and development., Hiroshima University. In 2006, he was promoted to associate professor and also moved to Institute for Advanced Materials Research, Hiroshima University. Then, in 2015, he was moved to Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University. In 2017, he was promoted to Professor and at the same time, moved to Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University. Recently in 2020, the organization in Hiroshima university was re-constructed and then re-named as Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University. His research focuses on solid state hydrogen storage materials in metallic and non-metallic states, Li-ion batteries, ammonia storage materials, and thermal chemical hydrogen production. The number of his publication is about 250, and total citation is over 8300.

Abstract

Growing global energy demand and exhaustion of fossil fuels are gradually becoming a big concern for all the people on the Earth. It is important to establish hydrogen utilization technology as a countermeasure against long-term fluctuations in renewable energy. Meanwhile, to achieve carbon neutrality, it is impossible to avoid the development of high-performance secondary batteries and the establishment of a hydrogen-utilizing society.

Our group has so far focused on various kind of metal hydrides and focused on exploring their functions to solve the above problems. On the other hand, as characteristic properties related to hydrogen gas, not only for high-capacity hydrogen storage but also for obtaining high pressure H2, producing heat by control of H2 pressure, and absorbing NH3 with relatively low pressure, we focused on various kinds of hydrides related materials, such as MgH2, TiFe intermetallic compound, TiH2, and LiBH4. And then, for high performance properties, “nano-composite techniques” played an important role. Of course, material modification to achieve required performance can only be accelerated by precise and accurate characterizations based on materials science. Moreover, the synthesis of hydrogen gas from renewable energies is also quite important technology to be developed with a reasonable cost (in Japan, target cost for hydrogen production is about 2 USD/kg). To achieve this economic requirement, thermochemical method to produce hydrogen is attracting a significant attention. And some suitable way to control this promising reaction would be demonstrated.