Quantum beam structure analysis lab. (Hoshikawa lab.)
Research and Education Center for Atomic Sciences, Ibaraki University
JP
/
EN
Research Overview
Material Science
We use quantum beams to study the relationship between structure (crystal structure, microstructure, etc.) and material properties, and conduct a wide range of research on various materials, from ceramics to plastics. In particular, we are focusing on hydrogen bonds in water molecules in the clathrate hydrates shown below.
Clathrate Hydrates
Large amounts of methane hydrate are buried on the seafloor off the coast of Japan, and are attracting attention as a next-generation energy resource. Methane hydrate is one of the compounds known as clathrate hydrates, which are compounds in which methane is included as a guest molecule within a cage-shaped host structure formed by hydrogen bonds between water molecules. It is known that various types of molecules are included as guest molecules, and we are conducting research from the perspective of crystal structure with the aim of clarifying the formation and decomposition mechanisms of this series of clathrate hydrates.
Recently, it was reported that fully deuterated ethane hydrate undergoes a structure phase transition at low temperatures [1]. It is known that this structure is caused by guest molecules ordering themselves within the crystal. It is considered to be due to the properties of the ethane molecule, as it occurs at 30 K, which is well below the glass transition temperature of water molecules. One reason is that an ethane molecule is composed of two methyl groups, and it is speculated that this may be due to quantum tunnel rotation of these methyl groups. However, such a structure phase transition has not been reported in solid ethane, and it is considered to be unique to ethane hydrate.
[1] A. Hoshikawa, Chem. Phys. Lett., 800 (2022) 139679.
Instrument development
We have developed a variety of instrument, including a neutron diffractometer itself, sample exchange and transport system, various high-temperature furnaces, and refrigerators. The automation of equipment will be extremely important in the future, so we are conducting research into the automation of various control systems. Programming is mainly done in Python, so even if you have no programming experience, we will teach you to program yourself as you operate various equipment. We welcome those who want to develop their own new control devices.
Together with my lab members, we automated the analysis of the structure of clathrate hydrates using Z-Rietveld, a Rietveld analysis software. We are also working on research and development aimed at making everyday tasks more efficient, such as making a simple webcam server using Raspberry Pi and monitoring measuring equipment.
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