Creation of Next-Generation Devices and Construction of Their Theories Through Interdisciplinary Research

The development of today's advanced information society is remarkable, and large-capacity, ultra-high-speed information processing has become indispensable. In particular, its importance is increasing not only for PCs, smartphones, and the Internet, but also for advanced artificial intelligence technologies including IoT, big data, generative AI, and physical AI, which have been attracting attention recently. Looking at Japan, there are estimates that the power consumption of IT equipment accounts for as much as 20% of the total domestic power generation (approx. 1,000 billion kWh), making low power consumption one of the major issues to be solved. Considering these modern circumstances, the creation of "next-generation devices (e.g., memory, sensors, etc.)" that combine large capacity, high speed, and low power consumption is essential.

Against this background, our laboratory aims to create "next-generation devices" and establish their theories. We are promoting new cross-disciplinary cutting-edge research that integrates nanoscience, functional molecular chemistry (chiral molecules, high-mobility molecules, etc.), and flexible engineering, with magnetism (spintronics) as the core ([Figure 1]).

In nanoscience and spintronics, we have discovered various phenomena such as the room-temperature magnetoresistance (MR) effect (Nanoscale Advances 2022), the chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) phenomenon (Nanoscale 2025), and the tunneling magnetoresistance effect in nano-junction devices using the edges of magnetic nano-thin films. We also succeeded in creating ultra-small junction devices of about 7 nm (Discover Nano 2025). In functional molecular spintronics, we successfully observed clear molecular-derived MR effects in spin devices using molecules composed of nuclear spin-less atoms and chiral molecules (JMMM 2025, APL Materials 2026). In flexible spintronics, we succeeded in modulating the MR effect and magnetic anisotropy through bending (JMMM 2023, Physica B: Condensed Matter 2026).

In Yukichi Fukuzawa's "Gakumon no susume (An Encouragement of Learning)," he repeatedly states that learning should be "jitsugaku (science)" that is useful in real life. He encourages learning broadly to solve social problems rather than dividing academic disciplines into small pieces. He frequently expressed the idea that "the world cannot be moved by a single branch of learning alone."

The creation of next-generation devices through interdisciplinary research and the construction of their theories are expected to enrich the world and contribute significantly to humanity and society.