From IT infrastructure to application technology: make, connect, use

The rapid growth of devices (smartphone, tablets, robots, wearables, etc.) and the Internet has increased the amount of information that is being produced and accessed by society. In order to better utilize the data produced from millions of devices and systems, we are conducting research and development in a wide range of fields at the interface between information technologies and human factors. Our mission is to engage and enrich the public through the research and development of intelligent systems combining computational and physical capabilities for human use. A key component of our mission is making new discoveries in the hardware and software that interacts with physical devices to sense and change the state of the real world. Our discoveries will lead to industry innovations and contribute to the advancement of society by facilitating the interaction of humans with cyber-physical systems.

New Research Results

Improved Performance of “Hygroelectric Cell” for Generating Electricity from Humidity Changes

Researchers at AIST have developed a hygroelectric cell with increased power output to the point where it can drive electronic circuits, making it the first in the world to successfully power a wireless sensor for more than four months by generating electricity using humidity changes.
Since hygroelectric cells generate power using day/night humidity changes, they can generate power anywhere, except in environments with constant humidity, and are expected to be used as a new energy harvesting technology for power sources for small wireless sensors and other devices. Until now, power generation output has been low, not enough to drive electronic circuits. However, the output has now been improved using ceramic solid electrolyte membranes, and small wireless sensors have been successfully powered for more than four months. This is expected to make it possible to use maintenance-free wireless sensors without the need for battery replacement even in dark places where solar cells cannot be used, such as under bridges and in machine control panels.
We have also derived a thermodynamic theory of power generation using humidity change, and theoretically clarified that the hygroelectric cell we have developed is capable of generating electricity with 100% efficiency in a quasi-static cycle. This theory is expected to be utilized to further develop research for improving the performance of hygroelectric cells.

Overview of high-power output of hygroelectric cells with ceramic solid electrolyte membranes
Figures from the original paper have been cited and modified.
*Figure modified from Komazaki et al., Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research, 6, 2400342 (2025).　

Successful Development of Enzymes for High-Purity L-Menthol Production

The AIST, in collaboration with Amano Enzyme Inc., has developed enzymes capable of synthesizing high-purity l-menthol, which can be used directly as a flavoring agent, through computational science.
Menthol is widely used as a fragrance in cosmetics and as a raw material in pharmaceuticals because of its distinctive minty scent, cooling effect due to its refreshing coolness, and analgesic effect. In recent years, the demand for menthol has exceeded what can be supplied through extraction from peppermint and cornmint, making industrial production essential. Menthol consists of a mixture of l-menthol, which has high industrial value, and d-menthol, a byproduct with significantly inferior taste and odor. Increasing the purity of l-menthol requires an advanced chemical synthesis process. Biotechnological methods utilizing the substrate specificity of enzymes are therefore attracting attention for the industrial synthesis of higher purity l-menthol.
In this study, new enzymes were developed based on Burkholderia cepacia lipase (BCL), a promising candidate enzyme for the industrial synthesis of l-menthol, using MSPER, an enzyme modification technology developed by AIST based on computational science. Conventional BCL produces l-menthol with a purity (optical purity) of approximately 98%ee, which is less than the 99%ee required for direct use as a flavoring agent. However, the newly developed enzymes achieved an l-menthol purity of up to 99.4%ee. This enzyme development contributes to the production of high-purity l-menthol in an environmentally friendly and economical process.
Details of this technology were published online in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry on February 17, 2025.

Production of l-menthol by the BCL enzyme

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.