LAB LOGA page on LabLog, a review site (not the lab's official page)
Aoki Lab
Machine-translated · View original
The lab studies tribology, controlling friction to contribute to energy savings.
AboutAbout the lab
Tribology: the science of friction.
The Aoki Lab studies tribology, which deals with friction, wear, and lubrication at the interfaces of solids rubbing against each other.
Focusing on the reactions between lubricant additives and solid surfaces and on their relationship with surface modification, the lab aims to develop technologies that control friction from the perspective of saving resources and energy.
On surfaces where solids slide against each other, such as bearings and gears, friction and wear affect machine lifetime and energy loss.
Combining tribology with Kansei engineering, the lab also investigates the relationship between finger sliding friction and human tactile perception.
Key terms
- Tribology
- The field that deals with friction and wear on surfaces rubbing together, and with the lubrication and surface technologies that reduce them
- Lubricant additive
- A compound added to lubricating oil to reduce friction and prevent wear and seizure
- Tribofilm
- An extremely thin film formed by a chemical reaction between an additive and a solid surface, which prevents direct contact between surfaces
NewsLab news
A lab alumnus won an Encouragement Award and a Paper Award at a tribology conference
The lab held an information session for the School of Materials and Chemical Technology
A joint research result won Komatsu's Industry–Academia Collaboration Practical Application Award
ResearchResearch themes
The lab's research field is tribology, which deals with friction, wear, and lubrication at interfaces between solids in relative motion. Focusing on the reactions between lubricant additives and solid surfaces and their interaction with surface modification, the lab aims to establish technologies for friction control and wear reduction from the perspective of saving resources and energy.
*Illustrative imageEngine oil in the era of carbon-neutral fuels
When carbon-neutral fuels, or the water produced by their combustion, mix into engine oil, contamination and degradation occur and can cause wear and seizure. The lab aims to clarify tribofilm formation and friction and wear characteristics under these conditions.
*Illustrative imageDesigning lubricants for space equipment
As space missions diversify, including crewed lunar exploration, lubrication technologies that withstand severe sliding conditions are needed. The lab evaluates the applicability of space lubricants blended with various extreme-pressure additives and aims to find the optimal design.
*Illustrative imageVisualizing finger sliding and tactile sensation
Sensations such as "rough" and "smooth" when a finger traces a surface are determined by friction and minute vibrations. The lab is taking on the challenge of observing the contact area in situ while the finger slides, in order to visualize the mechanism of friction.
*Illustrative imageSynergy between additives and surface treatments
As construction machinery gears become smaller, contact pressure rises and wear and seizure become more likely on the tooth surfaces. The lab evaluates the formation of tribofilms from additives on surface-treated steel, and their friction and wear characteristics.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Aoki Lab are faculty, and doctoral, master's, and bachelor's students.As of 2026
- Associate ProfessorSaiko AokiPublications ↗
VoicesStudent voices
Compiled from answers by students who were in the lab. Ratings and reviews reflect individual students' experiences, not the lab's official views.
Students who take part in an interview may receive a thank-you gift worth ¥1,000, regardless of what they say.
On a 4-point scale, ● marks where students' answers fall
Who is this lab for?
What's great about this lab?
What did you learn after joining?
What's the vibe, and what is the professor like?
Where do graduates go?
RelatedLabs similar to Aoki Lab
Tago-Fujitsuka LabSchool of Materials and Chemical Technology, Department of Chemical Science and EngineeringCatalytic reaction engineering, chemical engineering, zeolit…
Park LabSchool of Materials and Chemical Technology, Department of Chemical Science and EngineeringChemical biology, nucleic acid chemistry, earth and life sci…
Hirayama LabSchool of Materials and Chemical Technology, Department of Chemical Science and EngineeringInorganic solid-state chemistry, energy conversion materials…
Takao LabSchool of Materials and Chemical Technology, Department of Chemical Science and EngineeringOrganometallic chemistry; coordination chemistry; cluster ch…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: “Rolling-element bearing 60 mm” Massimiliano Lincetto / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Engine oil in the era of carbon-neutral fuels: “Internal combustion engine pistons of partial cross-sectional view” Mj-bird / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Designing lubricants for space equipment: “Lunar Rover Vehicle wheel ( )” Steve Jurvetson / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Visualizing finger sliding and tactile sensation: “Hand skin closeup” Clump / CC0 (cropped)
- Synergy between additives and surface treatments: “Abandoned concrete factory mechanism” Diacritica / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (多湖・藤墳研究室): “Altona Oil Refinery Victoria” Sgroey / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (朴研究室): “A-B-Z-DNA Side View” Thorwald / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (平山研究室): “Coin-cells” Gerhard H Wrodnigg / CC BY-SA 2.5 (cropped)
- Related lab (髙尾研究室): “Ruthenium crystals” Periodictableru / CC BY 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.