For those who are thinking of going to graduate school, we highly recommend venturing into the challenging and uncharted waters of new research. The questions you have solved so far are those whose answers are already known. However, once you go out into the world, you will frequently encounter issues whose answers are not known.
Research is a process where one sets foot in an unexplored land and tries to transform the unknown into the known. It is the very act of repeatedly finding previously unknown answers to important questions.
We hope you will join us in creating completely new substances and in solving the mysteries of our new world.
To enter the Department of Applied Science for Electronics and Materials, applicants can take an exam after selecting either substance/material or electrical fields. The Kikuchi Laboratory accepts both students.
For students majoring in substance/material fields
The physicality and the functionality of substances/materials differ greatly depending on the aggregation of the atoms and molecules that compose them. At the Kikuchi Laboratory, we aim to create organizations of molecules which have unique order structures and to develop functional soft matter (liquid crystal, macro molecule, gel, etc.) that can produce a variety of responses to electricity and light. We welcome those who like organic synthesis and those who are interested in material physicality.
For students majoring in electrical fields
Semiconductors and various optical elements which are widely used around us utilize interactions of electricity, light and substances. From among the substances used to generate those interactions, organic substances have been attracting attention recently, represented by the liquid crystal display and organic EL. In the Kikuchi Laboratory, we have been developing high-speed optical shutters and next-generation display elements by using the dynamic properties of organic substances (especially liquid crystal and polymer molecules). We welcome students who are interested in the measurement of the physicality of these organic device materials and their practical applications
Introduce of Laboratory
Characteristics of the Kikuchi & Okumura Laboratory
In substance investigation, synthetic chemistry (creation) and physicality evaluation (understanding of essence) are often compared to two wheels of a car. In the Kikuchi Laboratory, students can conduct research in both of these areas simultaneously and complementarily。
Research Contents
Polymer-stabilized liquid crystal blue phases and Chiral Nematic phases
We create totally new “soft matter” by equipping functionalized molecules such as liquid crystal and polymer molecules with unique order structures and organizational structures, and by fusing the original functions of the molecules with the functions brought about by their aggregate forms. We investigate the structures and the physicality of those soft matters and apply them to materials that demonstrate advanced electronics and photonics functions. The Kikuchi Laboratory develops high-speed response liquid display elements in partnership with material manufacturers and device makers. In this way, the image quality of liquid crystal TVs is expected to improve greatly.
Human Debelopment
We aim to develop trained people who can understand physicality from a broad series of perspectives, and who possess the great insight and design skills needed to create molecules of new substances which can present highly sophisticated functions from the viewpoint of physicality.
Events and Seminars
Every week, we have
- Progress report meetings (oral presentation style, using a projector)
- Journal readings (introductions of the latest theses)
- Study workshops (to acquire basic knowledge)
We also have parties to celebrate each important occasion.
Photos of the Laboratory
- Students’Room
- Seminar Room
- Physicality Room
- Synthetic Room
