一般財団法人材料科学技術振興財団　MST List of Products and Services

Raman spectroscopy is a technique that utilizes the phenomenon of light scattering (Raman effect), where the frequency of incident light changes as a result of interaction with molecules, to obtain information about the structure within molecules. - It is possible to obtain information about the molecular structure and crystal structure of the sample. - By using laser light, it can measure smaller areas compared to FT-IR (beam diameter approximately 1 μm).

Infrared spectroscopy is a method for obtaining information about molecular structure by measuring infrared absorption due to molecular vibrations. - Non-destructive measurement is possible. - Measurement under vacuum allows for the removal of the effects of atmospheric components such as CO2 and H2O. - Microscopic measurements enable the analysis of areas approximately several tens of micrometers in size. - By using methods such as transmission, reflection, and ATR, it is possible to measure samples of various shapes and states.

Eugenol is used in fragrances, disinfectants, and pharmaceuticals such as anesthetics. Its structural isomer, isoeugenol, is used in the industrial production of vanillin and as a fragrance formulation agent. This document presents a case study where quantum chemical calculations were used to simulate the Raman spectra of eugenol and isoeugenol. By comparing simulation results like those in this study with experimental data, structural information can be obtained, allowing for the identification of structural isomers. Additionally, the stability of the structure and its electronic states can also be discussed.

O-PTIR has the following features: - It allows for spectral and image measurements in small areas due to its spatial resolution (maximum spatial resolution: less than 1μm). - No need for thin sectioning (effective for samples that are difficult to thin section, such as foreign materials). - Measurements can generally be performed non-destructively. - Similar analyses can be performed using the FT-IR library.

Resins (synthetic polymers) are polymers of monomers and have characteristic functional groups depending on their type. Due to their structure, they exhibit properties such as heat resistance, toughness, and electrical insulation, making them widely used in packaging materials, adhesives, paints, and more. Structural analysis is important for understanding the properties of resins, and common analytical methods include FT-IR and thermogravimetric GC/MS. FT-IR allows for the evaluation of functional groups, while thermogravimetric GC/MS enables the assessment of monomers and partial structures, so by combining these two methods, structural analysis of a wide variety of resins becomes possible.

Resins that excel in chemical resistance and electrical insulation are used as insulators, coatings, and adhesives for various electronic components. FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) can investigate the causes of defects such as the degree of curing of resins, making it effective for product development. As an example, we will introduce a case where the degree of curing of UV-curable resins was evaluated. It is effective for examining the UV exposure time in adhesives and assessing the curing state when delamination occurs in products.

Next-generation all-solid-state batteries, which are lithium-ion batteries, are expected to have high safety, high energy density, high output, and a wide operating temperature range. In recent years, research and development aimed at practical application has been actively conducted, but there are various development challenges. At MST, we propose evaluation content suitable for solving development challenges based on comprehensive analysis and evaluation of structure, composition, and electrical properties. This document introduces specific examples of development challenges for all-solid-state batteries, their evaluation content, and representative evaluation methods for each component.

The separator in lithium-ion secondary batteries not only serves the role of isolating the positive and negative electrodes to prevent internal short circuits, but in automotive batteries, it is also required to have heat resistance to prevent a decrease in strength or melting even in high-temperature environments. This report introduces a case study on separators used in overseas automotive batteries, where heat resistance and thermal decomposition behavior were investigated using TG-DTA, and structural and compositional evaluations were conducted using SEM-EDX, FT-IR, XPS, TOF-SIMS, and XRD. It was found that the separator used in the battery consists of a porous polyethylene and a layered structure of polygonal AlO(OH) aimed at heat resistance.