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Narita-Kurita-Wang Lab
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The lab designs composite materials such as piezoelectric and magnetostrictive ones, aiming at applications in power generation and sensors.
AboutAbout the lab
Combining materials to create new functions
The Narita-Kurita-Wang Lab studies the design of composite materials made by combining multiple materials, and the evaluation of their mechanical properties and functions.
Using piezoelectric, magnetostrictive, and ferroelectric materials, the lab builds energy harvesting devices that draw electricity from vibration and temperature.
It also works on highly heat-resistant metal matrix composites for lighter aircraft, as well as plant-derived materials.
The lab collaborates with sports equipment manufacturers, universities overseas, and aircraft manufacturers.
Key terms
- Piezoelectric material
- A material that generates electricity when force is applied and deforms when voltage is applied. It is used in sensors and power generation devices
- Magnetostrictive material
- A material that expands and contracts in a magnetic field and, conversely, changes its magnetic state when force is applied
- Energy harvesting
- Extracting electricity from energy in the surroundings that would otherwise be wasted, such as vibration and heat
NewsLab news
A doctoral student received the Best Presentation Award at the Joint-Symposium on Mechanics of Advanced Materials & Structures 2025
A master's student received the Excellent Paper Award at the Tohoku University & Taipei Tech Joint Symposium
A doctoral student received the Graduate School of Environmental Studies Scholarship Award
A student received the IGPAC 2025 Young Scientist Award Gold Prize
The book "Piezoelectric Materials, Composites, and Devices" was published
ResearchResearch themes
The lab designs and evaluates composite materials, made by combining materials, in terms of both their mechanical properties and their functions. Its research looks toward applications, such as devices that draw electricity from vibration and temperature, and light, strong, heat-resistant materials.
*Illustrative imageSelf-Powered Composites for Sports
Wearable devices for sports require vibration energy harvesting that is light and withstands intense movement, as well as a design for exchanging signals wirelessly with devices worn on the body. The lab is developing carbon fiber reinforced plastics with piezoelectric and magnetostrictive functions jointly with a sports equipment manufacturer.
*Illustrative imageComposites of Magnetostrictive Alloys and Polymers
The lab aims to create soft, skin-attachable bone conduction devices that need no battery, as well as self-powered sensors. It makes composites of magnetostrictive alloy fibers or particles with polymers, and evaluates the sound pressure generated by a magnetic field and the power generated by vibration and impact.
*Illustrative imageSimulation of Ferroelectric Composites
Using computer simulation, the lab searches for optimal fabrication conditions for lead-free ferroelectric ceramics and for materials that combine inorganic nanoparticles with organic polymers, and evaluates their performance at low and high temperatures. By controlling crystal grain size and the density of lattice defects, it aims to create devices that generate power efficiently from vibration and temperature.
*Illustrative imageNano-Reinforced Heat-Resistant Composites
A lighter airframe improves the fuel efficiency of aircraft. The lab develops aluminum and titanium matrix composites, with dispersed nano-sized substances, that withstand high temperatures, and evaluates their fracture and deformation behavior through both theory and experiments.
MembersFaculty
The Narita-Kurita-Wang Lab consists of faculty members, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, international students, administrative assistants, and technical assistants.As of 2026
- ProfessorFumio Narita
- Associate ProfessorHiroki Kurita
- Assistant ProfessorZhenjin Wang
- Assistant ProfessorLovisa Rova
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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: “Carbon fiber material” texdata.com / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Self-Powered Composites for Sports: “Piezo” Stefan Riepl (Quark48) / CC BY-SA 2.0 de (cropped)
- Composites of Magnetostrictive Alloys and Polymers: “Ferrofluid in magnetic field” Steve Jurvetson / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Simulation of Ferroelectric Composites: “Ceramic fracture” Mtbusca / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Nano-Reinforced Heat-Resistant Composites: “Aerial photograph of airliners in flight” Yair-haklai / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Xu-Uchiyama Lab): “Триболюминесценция в кварце” Yaroslav Ulyushin / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Suto-Ando Lab): “Tellurium crystals” Hi-Res Images of Chemical Elements / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Ohara-Nagakubo Lab): “35th MXS Nondestructive Inspection Airmen ensure safety and mission readiness (9240945)” U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Patrick Boyle / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Takamura-Ishii Lab): “Cerium dioxide sample” Leiem / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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