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Iwase Lab
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A mechanical engineering lab that harnesses the physics of the small world to build micromachines and MEMS.
AboutAbout the lab
Understanding the small world, building small machines.
The Iwase Lab studies micromachines and MEMS, tiny machines ranging in size from tens of nanometers to hundreds of micrometers.
In the "small world," electrostatic force, friction, and surface tension have a greater influence than gravity, so approaches different from those used for large machines are needed.
By actively exploiting these characteristics, the lab researches how to assemble fine structures, as well as sensors, actuators, displays, and other devices that have advantages at small scales.
Key terms
- MEMS
- Tiny mechanical systems, around tens of micrometers in size, made using semiconductor technology
- Surface tension
- The force that acts on the surface of a liquid, pulling it together to make the surface as small as possible
- Structural color
- Color produced not by pigments but by fine structures that reflect light
NewsLab news
A doctoral student received the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME) Miura Award
A doctoral student won an Excellence Award at the 26th Science and Engineering Technical Paper Contest
Development of a kirigami-style thermoelectric generator that conforms to curved surfaces
A paper on stretchable electronic devices published in a journal
A student received the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME) Miura Award
ResearchResearch themes
The lab studies micromachines and MEMS, tiny machines ranging in size from tens of nanometers to hundreds of micrometers. It works on assembly methods for structures and the development of functional devices that make use of physical phenomena unique to the small world.
*Illustrative imageSelf-healing metal wiring
The lab has realized self-healing metal wiring: when a voltage is applied to a crack that has formed in the wiring, metal nanoparticles gather at the crack and reconnect the wire.
*Illustrative imageMulti-degree-of-freedom MEMS scanners
The lab is developing a MEMS scanner that can move a mirror in three dimensions with a single input signal, by using support beams that resonate in different ways.
*Illustrative imageDisplays using structural color
The lab researches displays whose color changes little with viewing angle, by reproducing the mechanism of "structural color," which is produced by fine structures rather than pigments, as in the coloration of morpho butterfly wings.
*Illustrative imageMicro-assembly using magnetic force
The lab researches a technique for assembling small structures made of magnetic material by applying an external magnetic field to raise them up like origami.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Iwase Lab consist of faculty, researchers, research assistants, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorEiji Iwase
VoicesStudent voices
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RelatedLabs similar to Iwase Lab
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Amano LabSchool of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Department of Applied Mechanics and Aerospace EngineeringEnergy system optimization and control of autonomous mobile …
Arao LabSchool of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Department of Applied Mechanics and Aerospace EngineeringMaterials processing and nanomaterialsThe 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: “Water strider (Gerridae sp.) Makiling” Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Self-healing metal wiring: “Kintsugi on broken Kyūsu lid-top PNr°1257” D-Kuru / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Multi-degree-of-freedom MEMS scanners: “Chladni plate 09” Rodrigo Tetsuo Argenton / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Displays using structural color: “Morpho helena wing detail” OKJaguar / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Micro-assembly using magnetic force: “Miura-ori origami tessellations” Origamicke / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Ohta Lab): “Blades of an axial compressor rotor, Deutsches Museum” Wilfredor / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Fujisawa Lab): “CFM56 High Pressure Compressor Rotor” Nubifer / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Amano Lab): “Industrial pipes and tanks at a plant in Japan - 63v )” Kenny Gil / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Arao Lab): “Graphite found near Mautern” Kritzolina / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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