Contributing to industrial competitiveness enhancement by synergistic interaction between materials and chemical technologies

We are developing technologies to enhance added value of functional chemicals, and to realize practical use of new materials, with strengthening value chains of materials through synergistic interaction between materials and chemical technologies in mind. Thus, we are aiming to contribute to the primary materials and chemical industries.

New Research Results

Scalable Synthesis of Peptides at Low Cost and with Minimal Waste

Researchers at AIST, in collaboration with the University of Tokyo, have realized a low-cost, waste-minimized, scalable chemical synthesis of peptides. Complex peptides consisting of nine amino acids can be produced with minimal use of protecting groups.
To produce peptides in large quantities, "chemical synthesis " is required. Conventional methods elongate amino acids one-by-one in a specific order, but the methods are costly due to requiring expensive amino acid starting materials having protective groups and elaborated chemical activators (condensation reagents). In recent years, chemoselective ligations for unprotected peptide chains have been widely used to efficiently produce large peptides, but most of these ligations have limitations in the scope of amino acid sequences. The newly developed peptide synthesis can be applied to any amino acid sequences, and can connect peptide chains in block-by-block style. By using this method, large peptides can be produced in large quantities with minimal use of protecting groups. As a demonstration of this method, we have succeeded in the scalable synthesis of the bioactive peptide consisting of nine amino acids.
This achievement will contribute not only to the development and supply of new pharmaceuticals (middle-sized molecular drugs), but also to pioneer new applications of peptides, such as industrial uses in foods, agrochemicals, cosmetics, and materials. In addition, synthetic methods that reduce production costs and environmental impact will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.

New scalable synthesis of peptides

Development of Power Generation System from Formic Acid by Flow-type System

A researcher at AIST, in collaboration with the University of Tsukuba, has developed a power generation system using hydrogen derived from formic acid with a flow-type reaction system.
Formic acid is considered one of the promising hydrogen sources to address future energy challenges. It is derived from biomass, carbon dioxide, etc., and is primarily used as an animal feed additive in grass silage. There are many challenges to implementing the technology to produce hydrogen from formic acid, and there have been only a few practical demonstrations of this technology in Japan. Thus, in this research, the catalyst for hydrogen production from formic acid was revisited, and a heterogeneous catalyst consisting cross-linked polyethyleneimine with iridium complexes and uncoordinated bipyridine ligands was newly designed and synthesized for the flow-type "continuous" hydrogen production process through formic acid dehydrogenation. We conducted a power generation test using a fuel cell and successfully demonstrated stable electric power generation for over 5 hours.
These achievements are expected to pave the way for the implementation of energy technology that utilizes formic acid as a liquid organic hydrogen carrier. Simultaneously, the generated hydrogen from formic acid is expected to be used for various applications beyond power generation.

"Continuous" hydrogen production process from formic acid by flow system

Other research organizations

Research Laboratory

• Adhesion and Interfacial Phenomena Research Laboratory

Open Innovation Laboratory

Since FY 2016, as a part of the “Open Innovation Arena concept” promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), AIST has created the concept of “open innovation laboratories” (OILs), collaborative research bases located on university campuses, and has been engaged in their provision. We are planning to establish more than ten OILs by FY 2020.

AIST will merge the basic research carried out at universities, etc. with AISTʼs goal-oriented basic research and applied technology development, and will promote bridging research and evelopment and industry by the establishment of OILs.

Cooperative Research Laboratories

In order to conduct research and development more closely related to strategies of companies, we have established collaborative research laboratories, bearing partner company names.

Partner companies provide their researchers and funding, and AIST provides research resources, such as its researchers, research facilities, and intellectual property. The loaned researchers of companies and AIST researchers jointly conduct research and development.

By setting up cooperative research laboratories, we will accelerate the commercialization of our goal-oriented basic research and application research with partner companies.