KAUST Research Conference:
Saudi-Japan Conference on Future Materials for the Energy Revolution
ABOUT
KAUST is honored to host this year’s Saudi-Japan Conference on Future Materials for the Energy Revolution, in collaboration with the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), on campus from November 17-20. This conference is dedicated to building a lasting partnership between Saudi Arabia and Japan, fostering research collaborations between KAUST and leading research institutions across Japan.
Bringing together top minds in materials science from both countries, with a particular emphasis on early- and mid-career researchers, the conference will explore how advanced materials can drive the energy revolution. JST has selected 13 outstanding researchers, each a recipient of the prestigious JST-PRESTO grant, to present their pioneering work. We warmly invite you to join us, in person or virtually, for this exceptional event.
AGENDA
08:30-09:00
Registration / Breakfast
09:00-09:15
Welcome and Opening Remarks
(Dean Chak Chan and Prof. Kageyama, Kyoto University)
09:15-09:45
Perovskite/silicon tandem photovoltaics
Stefaan De Wolf, KAUST
09:45-10:15
Development of novel π-conjugated molecules designed by inner modification
Norihito Fukui, Nagoya University
10:15-10:45
Aqueous process toward silicone aerogels with visible-light transparency, mechanical flexibility and thermal insulation
Kazuyoshi Kanamori, Kyoto University
10:45-11:15
Coffee break
11:15-11:45
Advanced Nanomaterials and Coating for Sustainable Energy Solutions: Innovations from Saudi Arabia
Hussam Qasem , KACST
11:45-12:15
MXenes: An Emerging Class of 2D Materials & Their Device Applications
Husam Alshareef , KAUST
12:15-12:30
Group photo
12:30-14:00
Lunch
14:00-14:30
Molecular Orbital Design for High-Performance Oligomer-Based Conductors
Tomoko Fujino, The University of Tokyo
14:30-15:00
Polymeric Mixed Conductors for Bioelectronic Devices
Sahika Inal (KAUST)
15:00-15:30
Coffee Break
15:30-16:00
Exploration of Heptazine-based Materials
Daigo Miyajima, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
16:00-16:30
Post-Polymerisation approaches to functional conjugated polymers
Martin Heeney, KAUST
16:30-17:00
Precise structural control of hetero-multinuclear metal oxo clusters within polyoxometalates
Takuo Minato, Hiroshima University
17:30
E-poster / Standing buffet
08:30-09:00
Breakfast
09:00-09:30
Cobalt-NHC Catalytic Center as a New Molecular Platform for the Reduction of Water into Molecular Hydrogen
Kosei Yamauchi, Kyushu University
09:30-10:00
Interfacial Molecular Engineering for Functional Materials: New Design Principle for Materials with Permeable Properties
Yoshimitsu Itoh, The University of Tokyo
10:00-10:30
Smart Materials for a Sustainable Society
Niveen Khashab, KAUST
10:30-11:00
Coffee break
11:00-11:30
Novel type of modification of arenes towards unprecedented nanocarbons and their application
Akiko Yagi, Nagoya University
11:30-12:00
Electronic states of half‐metallic ferromagnets in Heusler alloys detected by resonant inelastic X-ray scattering
Rie Umetsu ,Tohoku University
12:00-12:30
Switching of perpendicular magnetization by magnon torque in all oxide heterostructures
Xixiang Zhang , KAUST
12:30-14:00
Lunch
14:00-14:30
Cryo-compatible universal substrate for in-situ microscopy and materials characterization
Jawaher Almutlaq , KAUST
14:30-15:00
Exploring new chloride materials; synthesis, transport, and mechanical properties
Akira Miura, Hokkaido University
15:00-15:30
Exciton Dissociation by Topological Edge States
Udo Schwingenschlögl, KAUST
15:30
Museum/PI Labs visit
08:30-09:00
Breakfast
09:00-09:15
Poster Awards
09:15-09:45
Design of High-Performance Metal Nanoparticle Catalysts for Green Sustainable Molecular Transformations
Takato Mitsudome, Osaka University
09:45-10:15
Solar-driven Freshwater Extraction from Brine and Air
Kaijie Yang, KAUST
10:15-10:45
Recent advances in X-ray imaging scintillation and detection
Omar Mohammed, KAUST
10:45-11:15
Coffee break
11:15-11:45
Real-time electronic–nuclear dynamics simulation as an observation tool for excited-state phenomena
Hiroki Uratani, Kyoto University
11:45-12:15
Mixed-anion compounds as Future Materials
Hiroshi Kageyama, Kyoto University
12:15
Closing Remarks
SPEAKERS
Hiroshi Kageyama
Hiroshi Kageyama received his B.S. (1993), M.S. (1995), and Ph.D. (1998) from Kyoto University under the supervision of Professor Koji Kosuge. After completing his Ph.D., he worked as a research associate with Professor Yutaka Ueda at the University of Tokyo for five years. In 2003, he became an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University. In 2010, he was appointed full professor in the Department of Energy and Hydrocarbon Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto University. Since 2017, he has been an associate editor of Inorganic Chemistry. Additionally, since 2021, he has been a research supervisor for the PRESTO project of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) on “Future Materials.”
His research interests include the discovery of new inorganic compounds with novel chemical and physical functionalities, such as (photo)catalysis, magnetism, and superconductivity. In particular, his recent focus has been on the development and functionalization of mixed-anion compounds, including oxyhydrides and oxyhalides. He was the project leader of the “Mixed-Anion Project” (2016–2021), supported by a MEXT Grant-in-Aid. This project has since expanded into the international Core-to-Core project (2020–2024), involving researchers from five countries.
Rie Umetsu
Rie Umetsu received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in physics from Nara Women’s University in 1992 and 1994, respectively, and Ph.D. Eng. degree in materials science from Tohoku University in 2000.
After some postdoctoral experiences at Tohoku University, she became an assistant professor at Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials in Tohoku University in 2007. In 2010, she moved to Institute for Materials Research in Tohoku University, she became a specially appointed associate professor in 2013, associate professor in 2016 and professor in 2020.
Her current research topics are half-metallic magnetic materials, ferromagnetic shape memory alloys, Mn-based antiferromagnetic materials and large magnetostrictive materials. She has published over 240 technical articles in peer-reviewed journals, including book chapters and review articles. In 2019, she received 49th Saruhashi prize for remarkable women scientists in Japan and she was selected one of “The Asian Scientist 100 in 2020 edition” from Asian Scientist Magazine. She served as program committees of various international conferences, such as ICM, MMM, Intermag, ICFSMA, on field of magnetism and material science. She is a president of the Society of Japanese Women Scientists from 2023, and also playing the role of various committee members (The Science Council of Japan, IEEE Magnetic Society, and so on).
Yoshimitsu Itoh
Dr. Yoshimitsu Itoh received a Ph.D. degree for experimental and theoretical investigations of organo-fluorine compounds under the direction of Prof. Koichi Mikami at Tokyo Institute of Technology in 2006. Then, he started his first postdoctoral research focusing on organometallic catalysis with Prof. Eiichi Nakamura at the University of Tokyo. His second postdoctoral research was completed at Columbia University starting from 2007 with Prof. Colin Nuckolls working on self-assembled monolayers and organic field-effect transistors. In 2008, he began his academic career at the University of Tokyo as an assistant professor in the research group of Prof. Takuzo Aida, where he organized one research team there. He was promoted to Lecturer in 2016 and then to Associate Professor in 2018. In 2022, he successfully started his fully independent research group named Interfacial Molecular Engineering Lab. His current research interest is to engineer the interface between molecules, and between molecules and surfaces to develop innovative materials based on organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, and electrochemistry.
Norihito Fukui
Norihito Fukui is a Lecturer (junior associate professor) at Nagoya University. He received his PhD in 2018 from Kyoto University under the supervision of Prof. Atsuhiro Osuka. He started his academic career at Nagoya University in 2018 as an assistant professor in the group of Prof. Hiroshi Shinokubo. In 2022, he was promoted to a Lecturer (junior associate professor) at Nagoya University. Since 2021, he has also been a PRESTO researcher at Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). Currently, his research focuses on the development of novel functional π-systems based on inner-modification strategies.
Akira Miura
Dr. Akira Miura was born in Sapporo, Japan, in 1981. He received a Ph.D. in Engineering from Hokkaido University in 2007 and carried out postdoctoral research in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Cornell University and at the Institut für Anorganische Chemie at RTWH Aachen University in 2008–2010. After being appointed assistant professor at the Center for Crystal Science and Technology at Yamanashi University in 2010, he subsequently moved to the Faculty of Engineering at Hokkaido University in 2014. Dr. Miura’s research interests include the synthesis and characterization of oxides, hydroxides, oxynitrides, nitrides, sulfides and oxychalcogenides for use in novel semiconductors, catalysts, superconductors, and all-solid-state batteries.
Daigo Miyajima
Dr. Miyajima is a chemist interested in the self-assembly of molecules and their emergent functions. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo in 2013. He worked as a sub-group leader with prof. Takuzo Aida in RIKEN for five years, then became a Unit Leader (PI) in Center for Emergent Matter Science in RIKEN in 2018. He also has worked as a deputy team leader of the hydrogen energy storage technology laboratory team since 2018. In 2021, he was selected as a Principal Investigator for the PRESTO project (Sakigake) supported by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). Now he is a professor of the school of science and engineering at the Chinese university of Hong Kong, Shenzhen.
Takato Mitsudome
Takato Mitsudome received his Ph.D. (2006) from Osaka University, where he was supervised by Prof. Kiyotomi Kaneda. After obtaining his Ph.D., he joined the group of Profs. Kiyotomi Kaneda and Koichiro Jitsukawa as an assistant professor in 2007 in the Graduate School of Engineering Science at Osaka University, and was promoted to an associate professor in 2016. His research interest is the design of nano-structured heterogeneous catalysts for environmentally benign and selective molecular transformations.
Awards: 17th Green & Sustainable Chemistry (GSC) Encouragement Award (Japan Association for Chemical Innovation), Osaka University Award (Young Professor Section), Catalysis Society of Japan Award for Young Researchers, Young Scientist Award (15th International Congress on Catalyst)
Akiko Yagi
Akiko Yagi was born and raised in Nagoya, Japan (1988). She studied chemistry at Nagoya University, Japan, and completed her Ph.D. in 2016 with Prof. Kenichiro Itami. After working as a postdoctoral fellow (JSPS Overseas Research Fellowship) at The Scripps Research Institute, USA (with Prof. Ryan A. Shenvi) in 2016, she became an Assistant Professor in 2017 at Nagoya University, Japan, where she was promoted to Associate Professor in 2021 (with Prof. Kenichiro Itami, Institute of Transformative bio-Molecules). Currently, she holds several positions such as JST PRESTO researcher (Future Materials, from 2022), Visiting Associate Professor at Kyoto University and Community Board of Nanoscale Horizons, Royal Society of Chemisty.
Kosei Yamauchi
In 2004, Dr. Kosei Yamauchi entered the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University. After spending the graduate course at the same university, he became an assistant professor at the same department of Kyushu University in 2012. He has a special interest in the coordination chemistry for energy conversion. He was selected as the JST PRESTO “Future Materials” researcher in 2022. In this PRESTO project, he is pioneering molecular catalysis in strongly alkaline media because the oxygen evolution reaction, the bottleneck of water-splitting reaction, is thermodynamically and kinetically favored. Although hydrogen evolution from alkaline water is rather disfavored, he has found the highly efficient molecular system of photochemical hydrogen evolution from strongly alkaline water using cobalt-NHC complexes as catalysts
Kazuyoshi Kanamori
Kazuyoshi Kanamori received Bachelor (2000), Master (2002), and Doctor of Engineering (2005) from Kyoto University, Japan. He worked as a research fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) from 2003 to 2005 and as a postdoctoral fellow of JSPS from 2005 to 2007. He is currently Assistant Professor at Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University. His research interest is based on synthesis, characterization, and application of porous materials prepared via liquid-phase processes undergoing sol-gel transition. Porous materials, particularly aerogels, composed of inorganic oxides, organic-inorganic hybrids (silicones), organic crosslinked polymers and carbons are his special interests. He published > 200 original papers and reviews with total citations of > 7700 and filed 24 patents. He received D. R. Ulrich Award from International Sol-Gel Society (2011) and CerSJ Award for Academic Achievements in Ceramic Science and Technology from The Ceramic Society of Japan (2023).
Tomoko Fujino (Fujita)
Tomoko Fujino received her B.S. and M.S. degrees from The University of Tokyo in 2005 and 2007, and her Ph.D. from Tohoku University in 2011. She was appointed as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry at Tohoku University in 2007 and The University of Tokyo in 2016. During this time, she focused on designing and synthesizing non-biodegradable DNA and RNA oligonucleotides and exploring their unique functionalities to accelerate enzymatic reactions involved in the central dogma. Motivated by these studies, she began developing oligomer-based conductors that modeled doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), an area rarely explored in solid-state physics. In 2019, she was appointed as a Research Associate at The Institute for the Solid State Physics at The University of Tokyo and became a JST PRESTO "Future Material" researcher in 2022. Her research field includes Organic Synthesis and Solid State Physics.
Hiroki Uratani (Yoshimoto)
Hiroki Uratani was born in Japan in 1993. He received his Ph.D. from Waseda University, Japan, in 2021. After working at the same university as an assistant professor, he moved to Kyoto University in 2023. His main research field is theoretical chemistry. His present research interests include the development of novel theoretical frameworks for simulations and analyses of quantum dynamics, excited-state phenomena including charge separation dynamics in donor–acceptor systems, and collaborating works with experimentalists in a diverse field of chemistry.
Takuo Minato
Dr. Takuo Minato is an Assistant Professor at Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, Japan. His research interests are precise synthesis of polyoxometalates and metal complexes as designed to investigate their magnetic and catalytic properties. His research also focuses on cultivation of bacteria and isolation of proteins. Prior to his current position, he worked as a JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) PD research fellow at Kyushu University, Japan (2018–2020) and a postdoctoral researcher at University of Glasgow, U.K. (2017–2018), after completing his Ph.D. in Engineering at the University of Tokyo, Japan (2017).
Hussam Qasem
Hussam Qasem is the general manager of the future energy technologies institute at KACST. He obtained his PhD degree in Electrical Engineering from UCLA in 2019, his research focus is nanotechnology applications for energy harvesting devices. He has been working on several PV technologies, such as organic photovoltaics, perovskites, and solar cells based on 2-D materials. Hussam was the lead of the Al-Khafji flagship project demonstrating the largest desalination plant operated by renewable energy. Within KACST teams, his efforts on product development focuses on renewable technology systems for harsh environments, and the integration of renewable energy system with high-energy consumption applications. Hussam has represented the kingdom in energy policy in the G20 events, as well as, COP negotiations, and mission innovation initiatives.
Jawaher Almutlaq
Jawaher Almutlaq is an assistant professor in Applied Physics and Materials Science and Engineering in KAUST's Physical Science and Engineering Division. Her research focuses on developing non-classical light sources for sensing and communication, including single-photon emitters integrated with photonic circuits and CMOS microchips. Her Quantum Photonics Lab also designs quantum systems on chip (QSoC) for advanced materials characterization, creating on-chip components for a variety of in-situ measurements, ultimately advancing scalable quantum technologies and material engineering solutions.
Kaijie Yang is a Research Scientist in the SuPER (Sustainability and Photonics Energy Research) Lab, led by Professor Qiaoqiang Gan, under the PSE Division at KAUST. He is specialized in solar evaporation, atmospheric water harvesting, and adsorption. His research focuses on developing innovative materials and technologies to efficiently capture and utilize solar energy for sustainable water management, aiming to address global challenges in water scarcity through advanced photonic and adsorption-based solutions.
Sahika Inal
Sahika Inal is a professor of Bioengineering in KAUST's Biological, Environmental Science, and Engineering Division, KAUST. She is specialized in bioelectronics, focusing on organic electronic materials and devices for health monitoring and therapy. Her research explores ionic-electronic conduction in these materials, aiming to design efficient biointerfaces. Projects include polymer-based optical sensors for diagnostics, conducting polymer scaffolds for cell culture, and devices for localized drug delivery to address neurological conditions.
Martin Heeney
Martin Heeney is a professor of Chemistry in KAUST's Physical Science and Engineering Division. He is specialized in the design, synthesis, and characterization of solution-processed materials and polymers for applications in electronics, energy generation and storage, and sensors. His multi-disciplinary research combines organic, polymer, and materials chemistry, aiming to establish relationships between molecular design, synthetic methodology, processing, and performance to advance material functionality in various technologies.
Niveen Khashab is a professor of Chemistry and Associate Dean for Students in KAUST's Physical Science and Engineering Division. She is specialized in the design, synthesis, and applications of "smart" programmable nanomaterials, emphasizing controlled release and delivery. Her research spans biomedical uses such as delivery, sensing, and imaging, as well as industrial nanocomposites and environmental membrane synthesis, aiming to advance materials for diverse and impactful applications.
Omar Mohammed is a professor of chemistry and materials science and engineering, and principal investigator of the Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy and Four-dimensional (4D) Electron Imaging Laboratory at KAUST. Prior to joining KAUST, Dr. Mohammed worked at Caltech with Professor Zewail, a Nobel laureate, making significant contributions to the understanding of the dynamics of photo-generated charge carriers in photoactive materials and pioneering the development of advanced characterization techniques for studying surface and interfacial dynamics on nanometer and femtosecond scales. His current research activities focus on the development of highly efficient solar cells, light-emitting diodes and X-ray imaging scintillators with the aid of ultrafast laser spectroscopy, 4D electron imaging and computational materials.
Stefaan De Wolf is a professor of Material Science and Engineering in KAUST's PSE Division. He is specialized in high-efficiency silicon-based solar cells. His research focuses on optimizing interface structures and electrical contacts in these devices, along with innovative architectures like back-contacted and multi-junction solar cells. His work on perovskite-silicon tandem cells exemplifies his aim to maximize solar spectrum utilization, advancing photovoltaic technology for improved electricity generation.
Udo Schwingenschlögl
Professor Udo Schwingenschlögl is a professor of Applied Physics and the Associate Dean for Faculty and Research in KAUST's Physical Science and Engineering Division. He is specialized in the electronic and structural properties of nanostructured systems, with a particular focus on surfaces and interfaces. His research aims to advance the understanding and engineering of these properties to enhance the performance of materials in applications ranging from electronics to energy conversion.
Xixiang Zhang is a professor of Material Science and Engineering in KAUST's Physical Science and Engineering Division. He is specialized in magnetism and magnetic materials, focusing on areas like magneto-transport, spintronics, and magnetic cooling. His research also explores nanomaterials, multiferroic materials, graphene, carbon-based materials, and biomaterials, aiming to develop advanced materials for energy, electronics, and biomedical applications through an interdisciplinary approach.
Husam Alshareef is a Professor of Material Science and Engineering in KAUST's PSE Division, KAUST. He is also the Chair for the Center of Excellence in Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies at KAUST. His research focuses on the development of advanced materials for energy storage and electronics applications. He is a Fellow of APS, IEEE, NAI, IoP, RSC. He has been a highly cited researcher in materials science since 2018.
CAMPUS
FACILITIES
CAMPUS FACILITIES
KAUST hosts a wide range of sophisticated instruments and world-class facilities that students can access, including the Prototyping and Product Development Core Lab, and laboratories involving robotics and embedded systems, sensors, intelligent autonomous systems and biotechnology. Specific labs will be identified based on the curriculum and individual projects.
Centers of Excellence
KAUST Launches Four Pioneering Centers of Excellence to Address Key National and International Priorities
A NEW ERA FOR KAUST
Our unrelenting commitment to research, innovation and talent has seen KAUST establish itself as one of the leading research universities in the world, ranking #1 for citations per faculty globally, with a reputation for impact-driven research that contributes to the betterment of the world. This new era of KAUST builds on our many successes, achievements and strong foundations, and our new strategy represents an evolution that brings us closer to the interests of the Kingdom.
CONTACT US
King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)
4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
Thuwal 23955-6900
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
© 2024 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. All rights reserved.