Contributing to industrial competitiveness enhancement by synergistic interaction between materials and chemical technologies

We are developing technologies to enhance added value of functional chemicals, and to realize practical use of new materials, with strengthening value chains of materials through synergistic interaction between materials and chemical technologies in mind. Thus, we are aiming to contribute to the primary materials and chemical industries.

New Research Results

Development of Long-life Miniature Oxygen Sensor

A researcher at AIST, in collaboration with the University of Tsukuba, has developed a highly efficient method for the direct formic acid synthesis from carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
Formic acid has attracted significant attention as one of the promising hydrogen carriers. In the conventional method, formic acid is first produced from carbon dioxide and hydrogen as a stable “formate salt" under basic conditions and later, the “formate salt” is converted to formic acid through acid treatment. However, these methods involve multiple steps to manage the generated heat and to remove by-products, leading to high production costs, which complicates the cost-effective supply of hydrogen.
In this study, we have developed a simple and efficient method for the direct synthesis of formic acid from carbon dioxide and hydrogen using the iridium catalyst in hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP). Until now, direct synthesis with iridium catalysts faced challenges due to the rapid decomposition of formic acid into hydrogen and carbon dioxide in water. In contrast, we discovered that HFIP inhibits the formic acid decomposition and increases the formation rate of iridium hydride complexes, the key intermediates in the synthesis, by more than four times compared to that of water.
This breakthrough enables the direct, efficient production of formic acid without the need for formate intermediates. Furthermore, this achievement paves the way for formic acid to be used as a sustainable hydrogen source. By integrating it with AIST’s flow-based power generation system (please refer to the previous press release), this innovation could accelerate the development of carbon-neutral hydrogen storage and production solutions.

Overview of hydrogen storage and production system using formic acid

Development of Long-life Miniature Oxygen Sensor

Researchers at AIST, Techno Medica Co., Ltd, Tohoku University, Fuji Silysia Chemical Ltd. and University of Tsukuba have successfully developed a long-life miniature oxygen sensor that can be used continuously. This achievement was made possible by the development of a reference electrode that does not cause silver contamination of the working electrode.
Conventional compact oxygen sensors have a problem that silver ions elute from the silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) reference electrode and precipitate on the working electrode, making accurate measurement impossible. By using highly crystalline graphene-coated porous silica spheres (PB/G/PSS) with highly dispersed Prussian blue as the reference electrode, we have succeeded in developing a compact oxygen sensor that can be used continuously for a long period without ion elution. This achievement can be applied to blood oxygen analysis in the medical field, and is expected to contribute to "improvement of quality of life (QOL)."

Published as a supplementary cover in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

Other research organizations

Research Laboratory

• Adhesion and Interfacial Phenomena Research Laboratory

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.