クロス研究室 ―研究室紹介 #2―

未来型エネルギーと教育工学

2017.03.24

融合理工学系では、化学工学、機械工学、電気・通信工学、土木工学、生物工学、さらには環境政策・計画学、応用経済学、社会学、翻訳学、応用言語学までを包含した広い分野を融合し、異なる専門分野をもつ教員が相互の専門性と多様性を尊重しつつ、様々な学問領域を社会問題の解決という観点から結びつけた超域的教育を推進しています。

研究室紹介シリーズでは、ひとつの研究室にスポットを当てて研究テーマや研究成果を紹介。今回は、環境エネルギー政策、燃料、教育などの分野を研究を行う、クロス研究室です。

教授クロス・ジェフリー

エネルギーコース・エンジニアリングデザインコース・地球環境共創コース
研究室：大岡山キャンパス南3号館 1005号室
教授クロス・ジェフリー

構成：博士課程 3名、修士課程 1名、研究員 1名

研究分野	化学工学 / 材料工学 / エネルギー政策
研究キーワード	バイオマス工学 / 教育工学 / エネルギー政策
Webサイト	クロス研究室

研究室のアピールポイント

Students undertake research based upon their interests ranging from fields such as energy policy, materials science, biofuels and biosensing. Students typically join the lab of co-advisor and the majority undertake experimental research.

研究テーマ

Biofuel research

Research is ongoing to create high quality bio-oil by pyrolysis of scrap wood and upgrading it using a new type of catalyst. This unique catalyst uses an ionic liquid coating on a solid supports (ZSM-5, TiOx-ZrOx). Results indicate that the catalyst effectively upgrades the bio-oil. Further work is needed on understanding the reaction mechanism and improving yield

Biofuel research

Metal Cluster experimental and computational research

trigonal crystal structure of Cs2[Mo6Cl14]

trigonal crystal structure of Cs₂[Mo₆Cl₁₄]

The electronic and structural characteristics of the octahedral molybdenum cluster-based ternary compound, Cs₂[Mo₆Cl₁₄], are being investigated based on density functional theory (DFT) and characterized by spectroscopy. The [Mo₆Xⁱ₈X^a₆]^2- complex has attractive chemical and physical properties, such as luminescence, photocatalysis, and redox behavior. In particular, luminescence is the most attractive property of this complex because of its highly efficient broadband red emission under illumination by UV or blue light. Additional research is on-going about adjusting the emission spectra by tuning the chemical composition.

Cancer biosenor research

Detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from cancerous tumor cells in exhaled human breath allows for early diagnosis of various types of cancers. 3D graphene with a large surface area is considered a suitable material for creating novel sensitive VOCs sensors. 3D graphene and 3D graphene oxide are synthesized from graphene oxide suspension, hydroquinone and formaldehyde by employing polymerization and reduction. The capability of VOC gas sensing was evaluated by measuring the electrical current response in flowing N₂ gas over a range of concentrations of acetone at room temperature. 3D graphene oxide device was sensitive because of 3D porous complex micro/nano structure and the high concentration of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface. These results indicated that 3D graphene oxide is suitable materials for VOCs sensing devices at room temperature.

Gas sensing equipment

Cancer biosenor research

Rice straw processing

In order to develop an economical liquefaction process for pretreatment of rice straw, a 3D particle based-dissolution process model was developed. This study was undertaken to develop a dissolution model of ball milled rice straw (RS) particles using an ionic liquid 1-Ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Acetate [Emim][OAc] by tracking using optical and confocal microscopes. These results showed the rectangular particle swelled in-plane during the heat treatment in [Emim][OAc] but the thickness and volume decreased with heating time. This model appears to have applicable to other types of biomass.

Rice straw processing

Professor Cross is very active in organizing international student and faculty workshops and exchange programs at Tokyo Tech, with Asia, USA and the EU universities such as AOTULE and UK-Japan Engineering Education League.

Faculty workshop

Professor Cross, far left in front row

教員からのメッセージ

クロス教授より: Prof. Cross has 14 years experience working in the Japanese semiconductor industry developing devices and technology. In the lab, students are encouraged to propose and direct their own novel research project and publish their results. The lab atmosphere supports both American and Japanese working styles and is output driven. Japanese and international students have a great opportunity to learn American English communication skills and logical thinking in the Cross lab.