About
Creating functional materials
for the realization of a
zero-carbon society
Establish
The University of Tsukuba establish the "R&D Center for Zero CO2 Emission with Functional Materials" on April 1, 2022. At this center, basic important technologies are developed including production, storage and transportation of hydrogen and conversion of carbon dioxide to useful chemicals such as methanol and formic acid.
Background
Currently, with global warming, carbon neutrality (net zero carbon dioxide emission) is required on a global scale. Hydrogen can be produced from water, and fuel cells using hydrogen produce only water as a product without emitting carbon dioxide in the chemical reaction during power generation, so they are the main energy carriers of renewable energy. Hydrogen is thus an important molecule responsible for its sustainable zero-carbon society. In this center, we will promote the development and research of basic important technologies related to hydrogen production, storage and transportation, and green innovation basic technologies that convert carbon dioxide into useful materials such as methanol and formic acid and fuels.
Overview
We will widely disseminate the results of basic science research on green innovation unique to the university to society. We will make a game change from the industry-academia collaboration efforts that we have promoted individually, and work to promote new "organization" vs. "organization" large-scale industry-academia joint research with companies that emphasize green innovation. In addition, by providing a place for collaboration and co-creation with national R&D organizations in the Tsukuba area such as the National Institute for Materials Science and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, we will work to promote collaboration between government and academia as well as industry and academia. From the perspective of material science, we will develop technologies that actively reduce carbon dioxide and technologies that safely produce, store, and transport hydrogen at low cost without emitting carbon dioxide. Through this, we will establish hydrogen as a renewable energy carrier, contribute to the realization of a zero-carbon society, and contribute to the realization of SDGs.
Activity policy
We will promote green innovation basic technology. Specifically, (1) R&D for producing hydrogen at low cost without using precious metals, (2) R&D for storing and transporting a large amount of hydrogen inexpensively and safely, (3) R&D for converting carbon dioxide to useful chemicals, and (4) R&D of energy conversion technology utilizing biocatalyst functions of enzymes and microorganisms.