HIHARA Takehiko

Takehiko Hihara serves as Professor in the Department of Physical Engineering at Nagoya Institute of Technology's Faculty of Engineering, where he leads research in nanotechnology and materials science with emphasis on solid-state ionics and functional materials. His work bridges fundamental nanoscale phenomena with applications in energy storage systems, particularly advanced battery technologies.

His academic foundation includes a Master of Engineering and Doctor of Engineering from Tohoku University, earned after completing undergraduate and doctoral studies in the Faculty of Engineering (1990) and Graduate School of Engineering (1995), respectively.

Hihara's research program investigates nanometer-scale chemistry, thin film/surface physics, and metallic/inorganic functional materials. Current efforts focus on atomic-scale ion conduction mechanisms, solid electrolyte development, and nanostructured composite materials for next-generation batteries, integrating experimental and computational approaches to address interfacial stability challenges.

Analysis of his 11 recent publications (2023-2024) reveals concentrated expertise in halide-based solid electrolytes, sodium/lithium conduction phenomena, and mechanical durability enhancement for all-solid-state batteries. Key trends include atomic-scale defect engineering, interfacial reaction suppression, and novel processing techniques for high-performance energy storage materials.

His contributions have been recognized with multiple awards:

• Outstanding Poster Award (Japan Institute of Metals, 2023)
• Outstanding Poster Award (Japan Institute of Metals, 2022)
• 53rd Paper Award of The Japan Institute of Copper (2019)
• Best Poster Award (China Energy Storage Engineering Conference, 2018)
• Outstanding Poster Award (Japan Institute of Metals, 2016)

As principal investigator, Hihara secured significant funding including MEXT's Molecular and Substance Synthesis Platform (2012-2023) and Nagoya University's commissioned research on metal catalyst nanoparticles (2016-2017). His mentorship is evidenced by last-authorship on student-led publications in solid-state electrochemistry.

He operates within Nagoya Institute of Technology's Nanotechnology Platform, utilizing advanced characterization facilities for smart material development. His laboratory specializes in cluster-assembled materials synthesis and nanoscale property analysis, with strong industry and international collaborations focused on battery material innovation.