Promoting green innovation

To promote green innovation, AIST is developing technologies for increased use of alternative energy technologies, such as renewable energy sources that reduce greenhouse gas emissions (energy creation), high-density storage of energy (energy storage), highly efficient conversion and use of energy (energy saving), effective utilization of energy resources, and evaluation and reduction of environmental risks.

New Research Results

Succeeded in Synthesizing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Directly from CO₂

Kanadevia Corporation (Head office: Osaka-City, President and COO: Michi Kuwahara; hereinafter, “Kanadevia”) is pleased to announce that Kanadevia, and the AIST Group (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (hereinafter, “AIST”) and AIST Solutions Co.) succeeded in synthesizing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) directly from carbon dioxide (CO₂) under low pressure conditions of less than 1 MPa, using a newly developed special catalyst and synthesis process and equipment.
Based on the result of this study, Kanadevia and the AIST Group plan to examine the possibility of scaling up, and start a year-long demonstration test for annual production of 3 to 4 tons.

【Development Image】

Development of Photo-Absorber Layer as a Promising Top Cell for Tandem-Type Solar Cells

A researcher at AIST has developed a technology to improve the photovoltaic efficiency of wide-bandgap CIS-type thin-film solar cells that do not contain the rare metal indium.
For tandem-type solar cells, which are expected to achieve even higher performance than the solar cells currently in widespread use, the development of top cell materials for short-wavelength light absorption that satisfy all the elements of "low cost," "high performance," and "high reliability (stability)" has been a challenge. In this study, we developed a technology to improve the quality of photo-absorber layers with a wide bandgap energy, which is particularly suitable as a top cell among CIS-type compounds, a promising material group that satisfies these elements. The newly developed photo-absorber layer has excellent stability and is expected to be applied to inexpensive, high-performance, and flexible tandem-type solar cells in the future.

Successful enhancement of energy conversion efficiency in CIS-type solar cells specialized for absorbing short-wavelength illumination
^* Figures from the original paper have been cited and modified.

Open Innovation Laboratory

Since FY 2016, as a part of the “Open Innovation Arena concept” promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), AIST has created the concept of “open innovation laboratories” (OILs), collaborative research bases located on university campuses, and has been engaged in their provision. We are planning to establish more than ten OILs by FY 2020.

AIST will merge the basic research carried out at universities, etc. with AISTʼs goal-oriented basic research and applied technology development, and will promote bridging research and evelopment and industry by the establishment of OILs.

Cooperative Research Laboratories

In order to conduct research and development more closely related to strategies of companies, we have established collaborative research laboratories, bearing partner company names.

Partner companies provide their researchers and funding, and AIST provides research resources, such as its researchers, research facilities, and intellectual property. The loaned researchers of companies and AIST researchers jointly conduct research and development.

By setting up cooperative research laboratories, we will accelerate the commercialization of our goal-oriented basic research and application research with partner companies.