Japanese progress of the research on the application/implication of nanotechnologies to the environment

Kohmei Halada
National Institute for Materials Science

Hirihisa Yamada
National Institute for Materials Science

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     Last modified: February 14, 2006

Abstract
Japanese progress of the research on the application/implication of nanotechnologies to the environment

Kohmei HALADA and Hirohisa YAMADA

The review of the Japanese research on the application and the implication of nanotechnologies to the environment, health and the society is presented. As the application of the nanotechnology to the environmental issue, NIMS’s newly launched research projects on the fuel cell, photo catalysts, and nano-structured magnesium are introduced.
In the research project of fuel cell, the fuel cell operated at mediu-and-lower temperature area such as 200℃　to 500℃ is targeted. Solid oxide electrolyte, steel based separator, materials for reforming methanol and hydrogen transmission membrane with higher performance than Pd-Ag alloy membrane are on the investigation. Accurate analysis of nano-structure of the materials and structural controlling technologies in nano-size level are expected to bring out the potential physical properties which material itself radically posses.
The exploration of new types of visible-light derived photo-catalysts and the improvement of the character by the surface-nano-stratctural control is another research project on the application of nano-technology to the environment. The applications of photo-catalyst is not only directed to the effective decomposition and removal of hazardous substances but also to the conversion of photo-chemical energy which is expected as promising new energy source in the future. Band-structure control will realize the catalysis-design with various types of the combination of elements, which have possibility of developing new photo-catalysts of higher efficiency and rapid response.
Nano-technologies change materials for the structural use. Multi-scale structural control from nano to micro size brings drastic improvement of materials properties such as strength, toughness, durability and formability. The key technologies of controlling these properties are nano-level concentration control on grain interfaces, stabilization of secondary nano-particle inside the gain and the orientation control of fine gains. These characteristic improvement of structural material can reduce the CO2 emission in the application to automobile and enhance the resource productivity in every structural materials.
Regarding to the implication of nanotechnology on the environment, health and society, a feasibility investigation was launched with the cooperation of four national research institutes across the supervisory ministries. The name of the feasibility investigation was “societal acceptance of nano-technologies”, where NIMS( national research institute for materials science ) from MEXT, AIST(national institute of advanced industrial science and technology) from METI, NIES(national institute for environmental studies) from MOE and NIHS(national institute of health science) from MHLW make a tag-team together to clarify the issues of nanotechnology on the healthy, environmental and societal implications.
AIST had charge of the possibility of the risk assessment of nanotechnology and that of the communicative acceptance of nanotechnology to citizens. The importance of risk assessment also to nanotechnology has been discussed to launch a new project of risk assessment in this year. NIES shared the work on environmental effect of nano-paarticles. NIES has a excellent facility for the exposure test of fine particles. The problems of exposure test and the behaviors of nano-particles from the environment to the living body were investigated. NIHS has pre-eminent activities of effect of chemical substances on living organs. The issues of test methods on skin permeability, effect on nerve cell, and genetic toxicity assessment were discussed.
NIMS took a role of clarifying the issues of societal and ethical effects. The applications and implications were discussed in each fields of medical, agricultural, for food, for construction and for energy technology with the cooperation with NFRI(national food research institute), PRIMAFF(policy research institute, Ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries ), BRI(building research institute), NIIH(national institute of industrial health), NMRI(National Maritime Research Institute), CRIEPI(central research institute of electric power industry) and a pharmaceutical company developing nano-DDS. The wide possibility of nanotechnologies was re-confirmed through the discussion so that the code of conduct and the moral for materials may be changed by the distribution of nano-technologies’ applications. On the other hand, the fundamental understanding of nano-materials has become apparent to be very pure to prepare the technology assessment and risk assessment. The orchestration of findings and intelligence has pointed out to be urgent task.