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

Environmental Testing Evaluates the resistance of electronic components and devices when subjected to environmental stress. Reliability Evaluation Testing Assesses items related to the reliability and safety of the product.

- Phosphorescence has a longer lifespan compared to fluorescence, and it often becomes thermally deactivated due to quenching by oxygen or the motion and collisions of solvents, making it difficult to measure at room temperature in most cases. Therefore, phosphorescence measurements are generally conducted at low temperatures. The fluorescence spectrometer owned by MST can cool samples to liquid nitrogen temperatures, allowing for phosphorescence measurements. - To perform phosphorescence measurements, it is necessary to measure the emission lifetime of phosphorescence and appropriately set the opening and closing time of the shutter integrated into the device based on the results. By establishing suitable measurement conditions, it is possible to distinguish and observe phosphorescence from fluorescence. This document explains the measurement of phosphorescence emission lifetime and phosphorescence measurements.

NMR is typically performed using the resonance signals of deuterium (2H or D) nuclei in deuterated solvents for reasons such as ensuring the stability of the magnetic field. However, by using the resonance signals of proton (1H) nuclei, measurements can also be conducted with light solvents (i.e., regular solvents) (No-D measurement method). The effective measurements for the No-D method are as follows: - Measurements to evaluate interactions with light solvents (e.g., degradation studies in light solvents) - Measurements of samples that cannot use deuterated solvents (e.g., samples in the biochemical field such as proteins) - Measurements of samples containing volatile components - Measurements of samples for which no dissolvable deuterated solvents are available.

High-resolution HAADF-STEM images reflect the atomic arrangement of crystals, and by simulating STEM images corresponding to various crystal orientations, they help in accurately understanding the relative orientations between crystal grains and the observed images in polycrystalline materials. This document presents a case where STEM images were simulated from the crystal orientation information obtained by the EBSD method for the crystal grains in a polycrystalline neodymium magnet, and compares them with actual high-resolution HAADF-STEM images.

This document presents a case study of Rietveld analysis applied to the powder X-ray diffraction data of Li(Ni, Mn, Co)O2, which is used as a positive electrode active material in lithium-ion secondary batteries. By seeking a crystal structure model that reproduces the measured powder X-ray diffraction data through simulation, it is possible to precisely calculate crystal structure parameters such as lattice constants, site occupancy rates, and the proportion of cation mixing, which can then be used to discuss the material properties.

Thermally stable α-alumina is used in a wide range of applications, including heat-resistant materials, semiconductor packages, and components of semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Among these, dense α-alumina is also used as a material for vacuum devices. However, the gases generated when such materials are heated can adversely affect products and equipment, making it important to understand the outgassing from these materials. In this report, we present a case study comparing the outgassing amounts of porous and dense α-alumina using TDS analysis (temperature-programmed desorption gas analysis).

The electrical, optical, and magnetic properties of semiconductors are strongly influenced by defects and impurities present in the system. Therefore, to achieve the desired material properties, it is necessary to understand and control the behavior of defects and impurities. However, evaluating atomic-level microscopic behavior through experimental methods is challenging, making approaches using computational simulations effective. This document presents a case study using first-principles calculations with the NEB (Nudged Elastic Band) method to evaluate the diffusion pathways and barriers of metal impurities (Fe) in silicon crystals.

The electrolyte used in lithium-ion batteries is generally composed of a solvent and an electrolyte salt, and is considered a homogeneous system on a macroscopic scale. However, from a microscopic perspective, phenomena such as solvation occur. Understanding the local structure of lithium-ion solvation and the reactions that occur when inserting into the positive and negative electrodes is important for the design of high-performance battery materials. This document presents a case study that evaluates the microscopic structure of lithium-ion solvation in the electrolyte of lithium-ion batteries using molecular dynamics simulations.

In lithium-ion secondary batteries, Li(NiCoMn)O2 (NCM) used as the positive electrode can achieve higher capacity by increasing the Ni ratio, and it also excels in high-temperature storage, making it suitable for mass production for automotive applications. On the other hand, cation mixing, where Ni ions occupy Li sites, is considered one of the factors contributing to the degradation of secondary batteries. This presentation will introduce a case where the metal content of the positive electrode active material was evaluated using ICP-MS, the crystal structure was assessed using XRD, and the results were used to perform Rietveld analysis to evaluate the proportion of cation mixing.

Bacteria have various growth environments depending on their species, and there are many bacteria that are difficult to isolate and culture. Therefore, by extracting and analyzing DNA, which is the blueprint of life that all bacteria possess, it becomes possible to investigate the existing bacteria without isolation or culture. Here, we will introduce examples of analysis methods for sequencing bacterial DNA to infer the existing bacteria through microbiome analysis, as well as investigating bacterial numbers using real-time PCR methods.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are lightweight and possess excellent mechanical properties (high strength and high elasticity), making them suitable for various applications and environments. In particular, the deformation behavior of CNTs is related to flexibility and energy absorption characteristics, which are important in sensor and nano-device design. This document presents a case study that simulates the bending and recovery deformation of single-walled CNTs using molecular dynamics calculations. The simulation allows for the observation of structural changes at the atomic level due to environmental changes (pressure and temperature), enabling the analysis of deformation behavior based on the changes in strain energy associated with these structural changes.

The main components of wood biomass consist of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, and their composition ratios vary depending on the plant species from which they originate. The composition ratios of these three components can be evaluated by applying specific chemical treatments such as the Klason method or the Wise method to the samples and measuring their weights. At MST, the proportion of the main components in wood biomass is calculated according to the following analysis flow.

Perovskite solar cells are expected to be the next generation of solar cells due to their lightweight and flexible characteristics. They contain organic structures, halogens, and metals, and the variations in their composition and crystallinity lead to changes in their properties, which is considered one of the challenges in the research and development of perovskite solar cells. In this study, we evaluated the differences in photoluminescence (PL) spectra and luminescence lifetimes between the normal and abnormal areas of perovskite solar cells subjected to high-temperature and high-humidity testing using PL measurement and fluorescence lifetime measurement devices.

MALDI-MS (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry) is a method that allows for the detection and imaging of organic components in their molecular ion form. In particular, MALDI imaging is effective for evaluating the distribution of biological components and substances administered to living organisms in pharmacokinetic studies and pharmaceutical research and development. MST can provide a consistent process from sample preparation to measurement. This document presents an example of analysis where lipids were imaged using MALDI-MS, starting from the preparation of mouse brain slices.

In situ X-ray CT measurements allow for internal structure analysis under conditions where a load (tension or compression) is applied to the sample. In this document, in situ X-ray CT measurements were conducted using an aluminum plate as the sample, both in its normal state and in an extended state. We calculated the tensile stress applied to the sample and monitored the internal structural changes under each stress condition. By combining in situ X-ray CT measurements with image analysis technology, it is possible to evaluate under actual usage conditions, which was previously difficult, and assess the impact of stress on the product.