Research Mission
Materials technology has the potential to lead to breakthroughs in all other technological fields, and is thus a key pursuit. The Materials Science Research Laboratory pursues solutions to material technology issues relevant to electric utilities and other energy industries. The laboratory provides materials engineering solutions that not only enable the advanced operation of energy equipment, but also play an active role in general research and development of new materials.
Research Domains
Materials for Nuclear Energy
Elucidation of mechanism for radiation damage and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in light-water reactor (LWR) component materials, standardization of neutron irradiation embrittlement of pressure vessels, water chemistry management of LWR, and corrosion control of fuel cycle facilities.
Materials for Thermal Power Plants
Remaining life assessment, micro damage and crack growth prediction, corrosion evaluation, nondestructive inspection and monitoring technology of fossil fuel power plants.
Batteries and Electrochemical Materials
Development of all-solid-state lithium rechargeable battery in high safe performance and evaluation of lithium rechargeable battery for energy storage, basic material research of solid oxide fuel cell and development of evaluation methods for the optimal installation of Photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Advanced Functional Materials
Development and fundamental understanding of SiC power semiconductors, high-temperature superconductors, transition-metal oxides, and organic semiconductors, etc, to improve energy utilization efficiency.
Qualification body in PD (performance demonstration) system of nondestructive testing for reliability improvement of nuclear power plants.
