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Energy and Environmental Materials Creation Engineering Lab
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A lab studying silicon and related materials for solar cells, from bulk crystals down to the nanoscale.
AboutAbout the lab
From silicon crystals to the future of solar cells
The Usami-Katsube Lab studies silicon, the foundation of photovoltaics and electronics, as well as materials compatible with silicon.
It works across scales, from large bulk crystals to structures only nanometers in size.
The lab aims to create new crystals that could make solar cells widely available, nanomaterials with unprecedented properties, and new devices that operate with light or electricity.
Key terms
- Silicon ingot
- A large block of crystal made by solidifying molten silicon. It is sliced thin to make substrates for solar cells
- Heterojunction
- The part where different types of semiconductors are joined together. It determines the performance of a solar cell
- Silicide
- A compound in which a metal is bonded with silicon. Its properties differ from those of silicon
NewsLab news
Associate Professor Katsube received the Hokoku Shorei Award (Hattori Hokokai Foundation)
A doctoral student received the Outstanding Poster Award at the 7th Frontier Solar Cell Seminar
A master's student received the Best Poster Presentation Award at ECT 2025
Professor Usami received the GPVC Daejoo Award
A paper by Project Professor Ito and colleagues was published in Funtai Oyobi Fummatsu Yakin Journal of the Japan Society of…
ResearchResearch themes
To help solve energy and environmental problems, the lab aims to realize new crystals that can spread solar cells worldwide, nanomaterials with new properties, and unprecedented optical and electronic devices. It studies silicon, the foundational material for photovoltaics and electronics, and materials compatible with silicon, from bulk to nano.
*Illustrative imageHigh-quality silicon ingots for solar cells
The lab investigates how defects form as crystals grow and how impurities behave, using an original method that models complex multicrystalline structures. By designing and controlling defects and impurities, it aims to develop technology for producing high-quality silicon ingots at low cost, and to achieve highly efficient solar cells.
*Illustrative imageSilicon heterojunction solar cells
In semiconductor devices, the quality of the interfaces where materials are joined matters as much as the materials themselves. Toward establishing technology for next-generation solar cells, the lab conducts fundamental research on materials for new heterojunctions.
*Illustrative imagePower generation devices using nanostructures
When bumps and dips about the size of the wavelength of light are formed on a silicon surface, it absorbs light well. Taking advantage of the fact that the properties themselves change below 10 nanometers, the lab aims to raise the efficiency of solar cells and thermoelectric conversion devices.
*Illustrative imageTechnology for making silicide thin films
Silicides have properties different from those of silicon. Barium silicide is attracting attention as a material for thin-film solar cells that resist degradation, and magnesium silicide as a material that converts heat into electricity. The lab studies them using vacuum evaporation, a method suited to mass production.
MembersFaculty
The Usami-Katsube Lab consists of faculty members, researchers, technical staff and technical assistants, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorNoritaka Usami
- Associate ProfessorRyoji Katsube
- Project ProfessorTakashi Ito
- Project Assistant ProfessorBocquet Vincent
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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: “Hexagon solar cells” Wikideas1 / CC0 (cropped)
- High-quality silicon ingots for solar cells: “Silicon single crystal” Massimiliano Lincetto / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Silicon heterojunction solar cells: “Silicon heterojunction solar cell” Radiotrefoil / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Power generation devices using nanostructures: “Nanoart ‘Free Bird’” Яна Сичікова і Сергій Ковачов / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Technology for making silicide thin films: “Thin film perovskite solar cell and perovskite on silicon tandem solar cell” National Renewable Energy Laboratory / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (ナノ構造設計プロセス工学研究グループ): “CPO-27 PerspectiveView CrossSection” Canucksplayer (talk) / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (機能性ナノ材料創成工学研究グループ): “Precious opal (Coober Pedy Opal Field, South Australia)” James St. John / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (物質創成ナノテクトニクス工学研究グループ): “Nanoart Fluorescence” Яна Сычикова / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (結晶
成長情報工学研究グループ): “Rounded Silicon Carbide Ingot (cropped)” LaMèreVeille / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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