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Atomic Process Control Lab
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The lab observes and manipulates atoms and molecules to control manufacturing in the nanoscale world.
AboutAbout the lab
Exploring the science of material properties and manufacturing at the nanoscale
The Atomic Process Control Lab studies how to control “manufacturing” in the nanometer world by observing and manipulating the world of atoms and molecules, working with organic molecules and carbon materials.
The lab develops new instruments that precisely measure the minute physical and chemical quantities associated with phenomena in the tiny world, and uses the knowledge gained to develop devices based on new concepts.
Research is carried out by three groups: one that investigates molecular structure and optical activity with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), one that combines synchrotron radiation with STM, and one that studies structural color inspired by the Morpho butterfly.
The lab's website states that it is recruiting curious students, regardless of their field of specialization at the time of admission.
Key terms
- Chirality
- The property of an object whose mirror image cannot be superimposed on the original. Found in biomolecules such as proteins and amino acids
- Scanning tunneling microscope
- A microscope abbreviated as STM, which uses tunneling current to examine the shapes of atoms and molecules
- Structural color
- Color produced by the interaction between fine nanostructures and light. Unlike color from pigments, it produces vivid colors
NewsLab news
A paper by Assistant Professor Takuma Hattori and colleagues was published in Carbon
A paper by doctoral students and others was published in Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys.
A master's student received the OPJ Excellent Presentation Award at Optics & Photonics Japan 2025
A paper by doctoral students and others was published in Int. J. Mol. Sci.
Professor Yuji Kuwahara (retired in March 2026) received the Society Award of the Japan Society of Vacuum and Surface Science
ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims to control manufacturing at the nanoscale by actually observing and manipulating atoms and molecules, and to develop instruments that precisely measure minute physical and chemical quantities. Research is carried out by three groups: the Photon-STM group, the Synchrotron Radiation STM group, and the Structural Color group.
*Illustrative imageInvestigating the left-right differences of molecules
Aiming to solve the mystery of homochirality, in which the chirality of biomolecules is biased toward one form, the lab evaluates chiral structures and optical activity at the nanoscale using two methods: STM-induced luminescence and STM-TERS.
*Illustrative imageDistinguishing elements with synchrotron radiation STM
Using the large synchrotron radiation facility SPring-8, the lab developed a method for observing changes in surface electronic states at the atomic scale with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). It is now investigating the principle by which differences between elements become visible, and observing the movement of surface atoms caused by X-ray irradiation.
*Illustrative imageStructural color inspired by the Morpho butterfly
“Structural color” arises from the interaction between nanostructures and light, like the blue of the Morpho butterfly. The lab artificially reproduced it with nanostructures that combine “order” and “disorder,” and demonstrated the principle of color generation. It is now working on technologies for producing it over large areas and at high speed, among other things.
MembersFaculty
The lab's members consist of faculty, secretaries, and master's and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- Associate ProfessorAkira Saito
- Assistant ProfessorTakuma Hattori
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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: “Scanning tunneling microscope-MHS 2237-IMG 3816” Rama / CC BY-SA 3.0 fr (cropped)
- Investigating the left-right differences of molecules: “Chiral center RS” Morivert / Public domain (cropped)
- Distinguishing elements with synchrotron radiation STM: “SPring- img pano” Artorius / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Structural color inspired by the Morpho butterfly: “Martin Johnson Heade - Blue Morpho Butterfly - 2006.92 - Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art” Martin Johnson Heade / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Nanomanufacturing Science Lab): “Plasma Rapid Oxidation Technique for Extending Component Tenabil (KSC-20221102-PH-KLS01 0018)” Kim Shiflett / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Nano Surface and Interface Engineering Lab): “Scanning tunneling microscope-MHS 2237-IMG 3817-white” Rama / CC BY-SA 3.0 fr (cropped)
- Related lab (Quantum Measurement Lab): “Unreaviling water surface” Pawel Nowakowski / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Bio-Information Measurement Lab [Graduate School of Information Science and Technology]): “Thermo - Finnigan LCQ Mass Spectrometer ( )” Kitmondo Marketplace / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
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