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Otomo Lab
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The lab envisions decarbonized energy systems, starting from the chemistry of energy conversion.
AboutAbout the lab
From basic energy research to system design.
The Otomo Lab studies the chemistry of energy conversion and the design of energy systems.
Building on electrochemistry and reaction engineering, the lab investigates energy technologies such as fuel cells from the fundamentals.
Aiming for a material cycle of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen, the lab works on synthesizing new materials and on capturing and reducing carbon dioxide.
The lab also considers what future energy systems should look like, from both technological and economic perspectives.
Key terms
- Fuel cell
- A device that chemically reacts a fuel such as hydrogen with oxygen and extracts electricity directly from that reaction
- Proton conductor
- A material in which hydrogen ions (protons) can move through its interior. Used as the electrolyte in fuel cells, among other applications
- Chemical looping
- A method in which metal oxides are oxidized and reduced in separate reactors, so that hydrogen and carbon dioxide can be extracted separately
NewsLab news
Press release on research results on materials for carbon recycling
Press release on results of joint research with Mitsubishi Electric
An undergraduate student received the Best Presentation Award
A doctoral student's paper was published in ChemSusChem
A doctoral student received an Outstanding Poster Award at IMPRES2025
ResearchResearch themes
The lab develops materials involved in the conduction of ions and electrons in solids, and observes ion movement and chemical reactions at interfaces. Building on this, it develops energy devices such as high-efficiency fuel cells and electrolysis cells, and goes as far as evaluating low-carbon technologies for introduction into society.
*Illustrative imageNext-generation fuel cells
The lab develops a new type of fuel cell that uses a proton conductor as its electrolyte (protonic ceramic fuel cell, PCFC). It synthesizes new electrolyte materials and works to clarify the mechanisms of the reactions that take place at the electrodes.
*Illustrative imageElectrochemical synthesis of ammonia
The lab works on electrochemical synthesis that produces ammonia directly from water, nitrogen, and electricity, developing electrocatalyst materials and clarifying reaction mechanisms. It also develops electrochemical reactors that decompose ammonia to extract hydrogen.
*Illustrative imageChemical looping
The lab works on chemical looping, in which metal oxides are oxidized and reduced in separate towers, developing oxygen carrier particles and conducting reaction tests using fluidized beds. It also examines hydrogen production by methane pyrolysis.
*Illustrative imageCost engineering
The lab works on the design of energy systems, including fuel cell design and chemical looping process design, and on evaluating their economics. It aims to draw up scenarios that connect advanced technology with society.
MembersFaculty
Members of the Otomo Lab consist of faculty, researchers, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, staff such as secretaries and technical support staff, and visiting researchers.As of 2026
- ProfessorJunichiro OtomoPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorKonosuke WatanabePublications ↗
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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: “Natural Gas Corp. of N.Z. Ammonia-Urea Plant at Kapuni ( )” Archives New Zealand from New Zealand / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Next-generation fuel cells: “Solid oxide electrolyser cell 2x60cell stack” EERE / Public domain (cropped)
- Electrochemical synthesis of ammonia: “Solid oxide electrolyser cell 2x60cell stack” EERE / Public domain (cropped)
- Chemical looping: “Ilmenite-155036” Robert M. Lavinsky / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Cost engineering: “Toyota Mirai fuel cell stack SAO” Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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