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Functional Thin Film Materials Lab
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A lab that uses oxide thin films to switch the flow of heat and to convert heat into electricity.
AboutAbout the lab
Unlocking the power of oxides with thin films
The Functional Thin Film Materials Lab (Ohta Lab) studies new devices made from thin films of functional oxides.
From oxides that have traditionally been treated as ceramics, the lab grows high-quality thin films with atomically flat surfaces and brings out their inherent properties.
The lab works on three topics: "thermal transistors" that switch heat flow on and off, oxide thermoelectric materials that convert heat into electricity, and transparent oxide transistors.
The lab conducts joint research with overseas universities, including Pusan National University in South Korea.
Key terms
- Thermal transistor
- A device that switches the flow of heat on and off, much as a transistor switches an electric current
- Thermoelectric material
- A material that generates electricity from a temperature difference, making it possible to use discarded heat as electric power
- Ceramics
- Materials made by firing and hardening substances such as metal oxides; pottery, porcelain, and glass belong to this family
NewsLab news
Results of joint research with Pusan National University published in Chemistry of Materials
A doctoral student received the Best Poster Award at FMS2026
A doctoral student received the Poster Award at FMS2026
Assistant Professor Aron Jeong received the Best Academic Award at the joint divisional meeting of the Korean Scientists and Engineers Association in Japan
ResearchResearch themes
The lab grows high-quality thin films with atomically flat surfaces from functional oxides that have traditionally been treated as ceramics, with the aim of developing devices useful to society. It studies three topics: thermal transistors, oxide thermoelectric materials, and high-mobility transparent oxide transistors.
*Illustrative imageA thermal transistor without liquids
Thermal transistors, which switch the flow of heat on and off, have so far relied on liquids, and liquid leakage has been a problem. In 2023, the lab became the first in the world to successfully develop an all-solid-state electrochemical thermal transistor that uses no liquid at all, and it is now working on improvements toward larger switching ratios and faster operation.
*Illustrative imageHigh-mobility transparent oxide transistors
Transparent oxide semiconductors are used to drive the screens of devices such as smartphones. Using its original electric-field thermopower modulation method, the lab clarifies how these transistors operate, and by solving the problem of unstable operation, it aims to put transparent transistors in which electrons move faster into practical use.
*Illustrative imageOxide thermoelectric materials
As thermoelectric materials that convert waste heat from factories and automobiles into electricity, the lab focuses on oxides, which do not oxidize even at high temperatures. It has shown that Ba1/3CoO2 is stable in air at 600°C and delivers high performance, and it is now working on making large single crystals and ceramics toward practical use.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Functional Thin Film Materials Lab consist of faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, administrative assistants, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, special research students, and visiting researchers.As of 2026
- ProfessorHiromichi Ohta
- Associate ProfessorLudmila Cojocaru
- Assistant ProfessorAron Jeong
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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: “Atomic-scale growth by pulsed laser deposition ( )” Oak Ridge National Laboratory / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- A thermal transistor without liquids: “Low efficiency fins” Harke / Public domain (cropped)
- High-mobility transparent oxide transistors: “Pikseli ekrana telefona” Artemlys / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Oxide thermoelectric materials: “Micro thermoelectric device” Swatchith / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Information and Communication Photonics Lab): “Red optical fibers” Tyler Nienhouse / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Cell Bioengineering Lab): “Fibroblastid (BPAE)” Heiti Paves / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Electromagnetic Engineering Lab): “Manitoba Hydro-BipoleII Valve” Wtshymanski at English Wikipedia / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Electrical Energy Conversion Lab): “Floating Magnet caused by liquid nitrogen” PointsofNoReturn / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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