LAB LOGA page on LabLog, a review site (not the lab's official page)
Multiscale Functional Integration Lab
Machine-translated · View original
The lab combines electron microscopy and computation to read materials from the atomic scale up.
AboutAbout the lab
Reading materials through electron microscopy and computation.
The Multiscale Functional Integration Lab evaluates the inside of materials at the atomic level and aims to analyze their properties from the nano to the macro scale as a whole.
Working closely with the Ultra-High Voltage Electron Microscope Laboratory, the lab also aims to develop materials analysis methods that combine various kinds of electron microscopes.
Using these analysis techniques together with data mining, the lab develops new structural materials, semiconductor materials, and energy materials.
Staff members also participate in the Leading Research Center for Green Transformation and the Semiconductor Frontier Education and Research Organization.
Key terms
- First-principles calculation
- A calculation that predicts the properties of matter from the fundamental equations of quantum mechanics, without relying on experimental values
- MXene
- A two-dimensional ceramic material made by forming metal carbides or nitrides into thin sheets
- Microstructure
- The arrangement of crystal grains and phases visible under a microscope, which determines the strength and toughness of a metal
NewsLab news
A master's student received the Outstanding Young Researcher Award (Poster Category) at a research meeting of the Japan Institute of Metals and Materials
In collaboration with the University of Tokyo, the lab observed distortion in the molecular arrangement caused by the spin of oxygen molecules
Associate Professor Kunisada received the Young Faculty Encouragement Award from the Faculty of Engineering for FY2024 (Reiwa 6)
A student received the 32nd Scholarship Award of the Iron and Steel Institute of Japan and the Japan Institute of Metals and Materials
ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims to build the foundation for more efficient energy use and for the development of the materials that make it possible. By combining atomic-level structural evaluation, nanoscale measurement, and computer simulation, it analyzes the properties of materials and their origins across multiple scales.
*Illustrative imageCatalysts with less precious metal
A clean-energy society requires catalysts that remain highly active and durable even with small amounts of precious metals. By combining direct observation with electron microscopy, first-principles calculations, and quantum dynamics calculations of atomic nuclei, the lab understands from elementary processes how catalyst metals aggregate and how reactions proceed, and uses this to design new catalysts.
*Illustrative imageMXene, a two-dimensional ceramic
MXene, a sheet-like ceramic similar to graphene, is expected to be used in catalysts, secondary batteries, and optical materials. To make high-performance MXene, the lab works on synthesis processes that incorporate other elements and on optimizing the etching step to increase yield.
*Illustrative imageExploring hydrogen and materials by computation
Hydrogen entering a material makes it brittle, while hydrogen permeation membranes must let hydrogen pass through easily. Using first-principles calculations and quantum dynamics calculations, the lab studies how hydrogen dissolves and diffuses inside materials, and applies the findings to the development of coating films that block hydrogen and of permeation membranes.
*Illustrative imageControlling the microstructure of metals
The mechanical properties of metallic materials change greatly depending on their internal microstructure. The lab systematically observes, with electron microscopy, the microstructure of steels with simplified heat treatment and of materials made with metal 3D printers, and explores the conditions needed to control that microstructure.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Multiscale Functional Integration Lab include faculty, academic researchers, and master's and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorNorihito Sakaguchi
- Associate ProfessorYuji Kunisada
VoicesStudent voices
Ratings and reviews reflect the experiences of individual current or former students, not the lab's official views. Whether a lab has reviews, or how many, says nothing about the lab itself.
Students who take part in an interview may receive a thank-you gift worth ¥1,000, regardless of what they say.
Student ratings (0 students)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Student voices answer questions like these
- What's great about this lab?
- What did you learn after joining?
- What's the vibe, and what is the professor like?
- Who is this lab for?
- Where do graduates go?
Your experience can help younger students choose their lab. Your name won't be shown.
Write a lab reviewAnonymous · Your draft is saved if you stopRelatedLabs similar to Multiscale Functional Integration Lab
Nanobio Engineering LabFaculty of Engineering, Department of Applied Science and EngineeringNanobiotechnology, single-atom and nano-imaging, graphene, h…
Condensed Matter Physics Engineering LabFaculty of Engineering, Department of Applied Science and EngineeringCondensed matter theory, especially theory of quantum transp…
Strength System Design LabFaculty of Engineering, Department of Applied Science and EngineeringExperimental investigation of the mechanical and physical pr…
Topology Science and Engineering LabFaculty of Engineering, Department of Applied Science and EngineeringSuperconductivity, charge/spin density waves, quantum topolo…The information on this page is compiled by the LabLog team from the lab's public information and interviews. For corrections or removal requests, please contact LabLog, not the lab.
Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Scanning transmission electron microscopy la07sr03mno” Magnunor / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Catalysts with less precious metal: “Two ultrapure platinum crystals, each 1 cm big, together about 1 gram” Hi-Res Images of Chemical Elements / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- MXene, a two-dimensional ceramic: “The Last Flower” Snemani2023 / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Exploring hydrogen and materials by computation: “Steel-with-Hydrogen-Induced-Cracks-01” CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Controlling the microstructure of metals: “Martensit” uliss / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Nanobio Engineering Lab): “Graphene-epitaxial” Nathan Guisinger, EMMD Group, Argonne National Laboratory / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Condensed Matter Physics Engineering Lab): “CdTe quantum dots” Ruslan.Ka / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Strength System Design Lab): “Turbine blade with wax pattern” Olivier Cleynen / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Topology Science and Engineering Lab): “Möbius strip” David Benbennick / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
About LabLog
LabLog is a lab review app for students only. Student members at each university interview students in labs and publish what they say. Student voices can only be read by students who sign up with a university email address. Operated by bestiee Inc.
Learn more about LabLog ↗Search engines and AI may reference the basic lab info and rating summaries on this page and the description of LabLog. Student voices are for student members only. Automated collection by programs (scraping, or input to or training of AI) is prohibited under Article 8 of the Terms of Service. If you need data for research or analysis, please contact us.