On January 7, 2021, The Chemical Society of Japan (CSJ) announced the winners of CSJ Awards for 2020 (the Chemical Society of Japan Award, the Award for Creative Work, the Award for Young Chemists, the Award for Outstanding Young Women Chemists, the Award for Technical Development, the Award for Young Chemists in Technical Development, the Award for Technical Achievements, the Award for Chemical Education, and the Award for Merits for Chemical Education).

Professor Masahide Takahashi at the Department of Materials Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University, and Professor Akitoshi Hayashi at the Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University, have received the Chemical Society of Japan Award for Creative Work for 2020.

The award is given to researchers who have made leading and pioneering research achievements in basic or applied chemistry (physical chemistry, inorganic/analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, materials chemistry/polymer chemistry, natural products chemistry/biological chemistry, and multidisciplinary fields).

Comments from the Award Winners

Prof. Masahide Takahashi

I have been nominated by the Inorganic Chemistry Division of the Chemical Society of Japan and received the Award for Creative Work for the creative achievements. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the recommendation. Let me also acknowledge the students, group members, and collaborators who have worked with me on my research.

For these 12 years in OPU, I have been working on the organic-inorganic hybrid materials to achieving the only-one research outcomes based on the idea that “chemical phenomena that I find interesting or beautiful will always attract someone somewhere.” So, this prestigious award gives me a lot of confidence. From now on, with this award as a source of inspiration to continue my research based on my own conviction, such as, “This is awesome. How did you come up with this idea?” In addition to achieve unique outcomes, I will also energetically work on human resources development through research.

In April 2022, Osaka Prefecture University and Osaka City University will unite to form the Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU/tentative name). OMU will be a public university with the third largest number of students in Japan, and it will have greater social responsibility and expectations. We aim to produce research results and human resources commensurate with them. We look forward to your continuous support.

Prof. Akitoshi Hayashi

I have received the Chemical Society of Japan Award for Creative Work. Based on inorganic chemistry, I have been working on the development of solid electrolyte materials and interface formation processes suitable for all-solid-state batteries. As a researcher in the Department of Applied Chemistry, it is my great pleasure to receive this award in recognition of my research achievements.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the graduates and current students of the inorganic chemistry research group for their dedicated efforts and contributions to achieve the research outcome of the award. I am also grateful to Dr. Tsutomu Minami and Dr. Masahiro Tatsumisago for their direct guidance, and to Dr. Atsushi Sakuda, who has supported my research group. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them.

The award has inspired me to continue the research on all-solid-state batteries at Osaka Prefecture University. I would like to contribute to the dissemination of information to society with the aim of realizing a carbon-neutral society. 

Research details for the award

〈Prof. Masahide Takahashi〉Creation of innovative organic-inorganic hybrid materials using sol-gel method

Solution processing, such as the sol-gel method, allows us to control chemical processes to synthesize inorganic materials with various chemical compositions and microstructures. We have achieved inorganic materials and organic-inorganic hybrid materials with new chemical compositions, microstructures, and functions by using a unique solution process that cleverly combines inorganic chemistry with molecular science approaches.

By introducing a molecular science approach to inorganic synthesis, he precisely controlled difficult processes and realized materials and functions that were “desired but difficult to achieve.”

〈Prof. Akitoshi Hayashi〉Inorganic Chemical Process for Solid Electrolyte Creation and Its Application to All-Solid-State Batteries

In order to realize all-solid-state batteries, it is necessary to develop excellent solid electrolytes that can conduct alkali metal ions at high speed, and to develop a process to form a solid interface that is closely connected to an electrode active material. In this context, Prof. Hayashi developed innovative Li- and Na-ion conductive solid electrolytes from sulfide glasses, established gas-phase and liquid-phase synthesis processes for sulfide electrolytes, and applied them to the formation of interfaces with electrode active materials, thereby improving the properties of all-solid-state batteries.

In addition to basic research on the development of various inorganic chemical processes for the creation of solid electrolytes, he also conducted applied research to improve the performance of all-solid-state batteries with both high capacity and long cycle life.

Related links

• Japanese : [Announcement] Winners of CSJ Awards for 2020 Announced (The Chemical Society of Japan Webpage)
• Science of Materials and Nanotechnology Group, Department of Materials Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University
• Inorganic Chemistry Research Group, Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University