Ready for Nanoarchitectonics? Designing spaces inside nanomaterials to make systems perform better

How can we design the spaces inside nanomaterials to make nanosystems more efficient? This is what researchers from the Yamauchi-Asakura Laboratory at Nagoya University are working on—becoming architects for materials at the atomic level. They specialize in “Nanoarchitectonics”, the design and control of nanospaces inside inorganic materials, such as metal and carbon, to create high-performance materials for batteries, sensors, and other clean technology applications. 

Lab members create tiny spaces within materials using a technique called “templating,” which is similar to making a sponge with precisely designed holes. They use template molecules which act as removable molds to shape internal structures. By carefully controlling synthetic conditions such as temperature, pressure, and pH levels during the templating process, the researchers ensure the holes form exactly where they want. When the new nanoporous material is ready, they remove the templates, leaving behind a network of nanoscopic tunnels and chambers. These engineered spaces give the materials advantages, such as better electrical conductivity and larger surface areas for chemical reactions.  

Leader and trailblazer 

Lab co-leader Professor Yusuke Yamauchi holds the position of Distinguished Professor at Nagoya University’s Department of Materials Process Engineering. He joined the university in April 2023 and is one of two “Takuetsu” Professors (Distinguished Professors of Research Excellence); an honor he shares with Nobel laureate Professor Hiroshi Amano. A globally influential researcher, he has been featured on the Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers list for 8 consecutive years (2016-2023) in Chemistry, with dual recognition in Chemistry and Materials Science since 2020. He is also the first Japanese recipient of the Australian Laureate Fellowship, the highest-ranked research fellowship in Australia. 

With collaborations that include Toagosei, Yabushita, Rio Tinto, the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), and Waseda University, Professor Yamauchi is a strong promoter of academia–industry partnerships and expanding career opportunities for students in the tech sector. During his time as a professor at the University of Queensland, his international collaborations helped strengthen research ties between Japanese and Australian institutions, as highlighted in Nature Index.  

Professor Yamauchi's interest in chemistry and engineering began in childhood through his fascination with building small units with wooden blocks. Later, as a young student, he became interested in building at the molecular and atomic levels to create functional materials.  

Nanosponges to the rescue 

“In my research approach I emphasize simplicity and accessibility in my methods and develop simple chemistry that others can easily follow and replicate,” he explained. With over 1,000 research papers and more than 100,000 citations, Professor Yamauchi and his collaborators have made significant research contributions to nanomaterials science. His recent breakthroughs include a method to create nanoporous metals and other conductive materials that could advance clean energy technologies. 

Catalysts—which help speed up chemical reactions—represent one promising application, with uses in diverse technologies from car engines to hydrogen fuel cells. Precious metals like platinum make the best catalysts, but they are very expensive and rare. Professor Yamauchi and his collaborators solved this by creating a sponge-like material with abundant nanoscale pores, using inexpensive metals as the main components. They placed individual platinum atoms into these tiny spaces, distributing them evenly so that each atom can function at maximum efficiency.  

This allowed them to use 90% less platinum and achieve better performance than traditional catalysts. The platinum atoms were held in place by strong metallic bonds, making them highly stable and long-lasting. This new material could make hydrogen fuel cells much cheaper to produce and potentially accelerate the shift to clean energy vehicles, among other applications (Read the research paper here). 

In 2023, Professor Yamauchi was the principal investigator on a project that created a new material to make clean energy much more affordable and efficient. Five different precious metals—platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, and copper—were mixed in equal amounts into a sponge-like structure with tiny holes at the nanoscale level. Instead of using just one or two metals like traditional catalysts, the researchers mixed five metals together, creating a "high-entropy alloy" that is often stronger and more useful than any single metal alone. 

This new alloy serves as a highly efficient catalyst for producing hydrogen gas—a clean fuel generated from water. Unlike earlier catalysts, it works well in acidic, neutral, and basic conditions. The tiny holes in the alloy help chemicals move around easily during reactions, and the mixed metals create powerful reaction sites that speed up hydrogen production. This discovery, published in the journal Nature Communications, could lead to better hydrogen fuel cells for cars and power systems, making clean energy technology more affordable by removing the need for multiple different catalysts under different conditions. 

In 2024, the Yamauchi-Asakura Lab turned their attention to microplastic pollution in water. Microplastics are extremely small and mixed with natural materials, making them difficult to detect. To solve this, the team created a silver metal foam, similar to a kitchen sponge, with microscopic holes that trap microplastics from rivers, lakes, and oceans. When water passes through the foam, microplastics stick to it and can be identified using laser light and artificial intelligence. This new method is cheaper and simpler than traditional testing, which requires expensive equipment and expert skills. The breakthrough could allow anyone to easily monitor plastic pollution. 

“You can simply dip the foam into a river and get results,” Professor Yamauchi said. “Our artificial intelligence system can simultaneously identify six different types of common plastics in a single test, even when they're all mixed together. This could finally allow anyone to easily monitor plastic pollution in their local waterways, and we can get a much better idea of how serious the microplastic problem is and where we need to focus cleanup efforts” (Read the research paper here). 

Creating new nanomaterials that benefit society 

Each member of the Yamauchi-Asakura Lab brings their unique expertise to the shared goal of engineering nanomaterials that can improve environmental sustainability and human health. Lab co-leader, Associate Professor Yusuke Asakura develops hollow nanoparticles for catalysis and sensing. By precisely controlling their shape and composition, these nanomaterials reveal new functions. “Controlling shape and composition at the nanoscale lets us unlock new properties,” he said. “Now we’re focused on translating these discoveries into practical technologies.” 

Assistant Professor Mandy Hei Man Leung from Hong Kong, China, develops mesoporous nanomaterials for early cancer detection. With abundant nanoscale pores, these materials offer a high surface area for sensitive analysis. “In the near future, I believe people will be able to check their health at home with ease,” she said. “The challenge now is moving from the lab to real-world use.”

Assistant Professor Azhar Alowasheeir from Saudi Arabia has worked closely with Professor Yamauchi for 9 years. She creates hybrid materials with large surface areas to address environmental challenges through applications such as fuel cells and water treatment. “We design nanoporous nanoparticles that can be mass produced and used cost-effectively in real-world systems. These advanced materials can help solve some of our most urgent environmental problems, but only if we make them affordable for adoption,” she said.  

Professor Yamauchi aims to leverage Nagoya University's unique position in Japan's most industrially productive prefecture, Aichi, to create stronger university-industry collaborations. He emphasizes making Nagoya University Japan’s top research university by boosting international diversity while maintaining its strong Nobel Prize legacy. The primary challenge is transitioning his research from laboratory-scale success to industrial scalability and real-world technologies. He aims to achieve this by expanding faculty and industry collaborations. 

As Research Director of the Yamauchi Materials Space-Tectonics Project, an Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO) initiative, he leads an international team investigating how machine learning can accelerate nanomaterials development. The project involves several institutions including Nagoya University, Waseda University, the University of Queensland, and the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS). ERATO represents one of Japan's most elite research programs, with previous recipients including Nobel Prize winners. 

“It’s important to make research practical and scalable for real-world applications and move beyond basic science to create materials that can benefit society. International collaborations are important and young researchers must consider strategic career planning to achieve success in competitive global research environments,” Professor Yamauchi said.  

"Even when I failed every university interview in Japan, I realized failure was just showing me a different path. My career only truly began when I committed myself fully to research. You must study hard and take deliberate steps—because good work is good work, no matter where you start." 

For more information on the Yamauchi-Asakura Lab’s research, please visit their website: https://www.nagoya-yamauchi-lab.com/index.html