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Soft Matter Ionics Materials Lab
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The lab aims for next-generation batteries using soft materials that control the movement of ions.
AboutAbout the lab
Creating new soft materials that control the movement of ions
The Soft Matter Ionics Materials Lab conducts research to create new functional materials, based on polymer chemistry and electrochemistry.
Focusing on electrolytes (ionic liquids), polymer gels, and colloidal dispersions, the lab makes materials that control the movement of ions and electrons and is advancing their application to next-generation energy conversion and storage devices.
The lab carries out its research with the aim of “realizing a sustainable society through materials innovation.”
The lab aims to be a place that develops the ability to do independent, original, and creative research.
Key terms
- Ionic liquid
- A liquid electrolyte made only of ions, containing no molecular solvent
- Concentrated electrolyte
- An electrolyte with a very high salt concentration
- Gel electrolyte
- A material in which a liquid electrolyte is made quasi-solid. It is also flexible and stretchable
NewsLab news
A paper on deeply supercooled alkali metal salt electrolytes has been published
Results of joint research with a group at Okayama University have been published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
A paper on multicomponent Li molten salt electrolytes has been published
A paper on asymmetric Li molten salts has been published
A paper on solvate ionic liquids using asymmetric Li salts has been published
ResearchResearch themes
The lab focuses on “ionics materials,” which mediate redox reactions in electrochemical devices, and aims to apply them to next-generation energy conversion and storage devices. Concentrated electrolytes, ionic liquids, polymer electrolyte solutions, and gel electrolytes are collectively called “soft matter electrolytes,” and the lab is investigating how to use functions unique to soft matter in batteries and other energy storage devices.
*Illustrative imageElectrolytes that conduct only the ions involved in the battery reaction
To transport quickly only the ions involved in the battery reaction, the lab studies ion solvation and ion motion in concentrated electrolytes, polymer electrolyte solutions, and ionic liquids. It aims to design and develop liquid electrolytes that conduct ions selectively.
*Illustrative imageElectrolytes for lithium-sulfur batteries
In conventional organic electrolytes, lithium polysulfides, the reaction intermediates of the sulfur electrode, dissolve out and markedly shorten the charge-discharge cycle life. The lab develops electrolytes in which lithium polysulfides are poorly soluble, using ionic liquids and concentrated electrolytes, and works on further performance improvement and on prototype batteries.
*Illustrative imageGel electrolytes using polymers and nanoparticles
The lab develops highly heat-resistant gel electrolytes using ionic liquids and concentrated electrolytes, and investigates their ion transport, electrochemical, and mechanical properties. Having found that gelation is possible by combining them with polymers or inorganic nanoparticles, the lab is studying material design and application to energy storage devices.
*Illustrative imageMetal gels that conduct electrons and ions
The lab has developed “metal gels” that conduct both electrons and ions, made by combining gel electrolyte materials with Ga-based liquid metal. It is also studying how to add the active material of lithium-ion batteries and use them as stretchable electrodes in stretchable batteries.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Soft Matter Ionics Materials Lab consist of faculty, a Project Professor, postdoctoral researchers, administrative assistants, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and research students.As of 2026
- ProfessorKazuhide Ueno
- Assistant ProfessorHossain MD Sharif
- Project ProfessorMasayoshi Watanabe
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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: “Ionic Liquid ( )” National Institute of Standards and Technology / Public domain (cropped)
- Electrolytes that conduct only the ions involved in the battery reaction: “LeakedBattery 2701a” Túrelio / CC BY-SA 3.0 de (cropped)
- Electrolytes for lithium-sulfur batteries: “All-solid lithium-sulfur battery ( )” Oak Ridge National Laboratory / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Gel electrolytes using polymers and nanoparticles: “Gel in containers” Nikudumo / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Metal gels that conduct electrons and ions: “Superabsorber Hydrogel KSG 2906 pK” Petra Klawikowski / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Solid-State Energy Chemistry Lab): “Electrode Coater” RudolfSimon / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Electrochemistry Lab): “Anker AstroMini (2nd Gen, 79AN7913S) - Li-Ion battery-6200” Raimond Spekking / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Izato Lab): “Destroyed Trailers and Blowdown Stack” U.S. Chemical Safety Board / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Mitsushima-Kuroda Lab): “Front cells” CambridgeBayWeather / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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