1. Development of nanotransfer printing platforms for real-time plant and food monitoring
To meet the increasing demand for safe and
high-quality food, our research group has developed nanotransfer printing (nTP)
platforms tailored for real-time, nondestructive monitoring of plants and food
products. Building upon nanoimprint lithography and water-floating nanotransfer
techniques, we engineered plasmonic nanostructures integrated into flexible,
stretchable, and even hydrophobic substrates such as food packaging films and
plant leaves. By embedding Au or Pd nanostructures onto surfaces using solvent-free,
room-temperature processes, our platform enables high-throughput fabrication of
SERS-based sensors capable of detecting nutritional components (e.g., purines,
proteins, carotenoids) and hazardous substances (e.g., pesticides, thiram) in
meat, fruits, and vegetables. This approach allows simultaneous food
preservation and quality assessment via antimicrobial electrospun wrappers and
SERS-active meshes, promoting safer consumption and reduced spoilage. The
technique’s adaptability to complex 3D and soft biological surfaces—including
fruits, leaves, and curved optical elements—demonstrates its practical utility
in agriculture, food packaging, and precision farming.
Figure 1. Nanotransfer printing for plant and food monitoring
2. Creation of green-energy harvesting, storage, and conversion devices utilizing the world's first metal/ceramic nanoribbon yarns
Nanomaterial-based yarns are of great interest due to
their high surface-area-to-volume ratios, flexibility, and unique material
properties, such as anisotropic electrical and thermal conductivity. These
properties can be scaled up from nanomaterials to macro-sized structures. Until
now, most nanomaterial-based yarns have been fabricated using organic materials
such as polymers, graphene, and carbon nanotubes. Our group has pioneered the
fabrication of fully inorganic nanoribbon yarns, significantly expanding their
applicability. By bundling highly aligned and suspended nanoribbons made from
various inorganic materials (e.g., Au, Pd, Ni, Al, Pt, Bi2Te3,
Si, WO3, SnO2, NiO, In2O3, and
CuO), we have created novel yarns. These inorganic nanoribbon yarns are being
applied in green-energy devices, including triboelectric and thermoelectric
nanogenerators for energy harvesting, water splitting electrodes for energy
conversion, supercapacitors for energy storage, and gas sensors for green gas
monitoring.
Figure 2. All-inorganic nanoribbon yarn for green energy-related devices
Figure 3. SEM images of all-inorganic nanoribbon yarn
3. Innovation in AI-based soft physical sensors for health/workout monitoring and VR/AR applcations
In our
aging society, enhancing individual health through physical activity is
crucial. To address this need, our group is developing AI-based soft physical
sensors to enable comprehensive health and workout monitoring through VR/AR
applications. These sensors aim to provide real-time feedback and data for
users, enhancing their exercise experience and promoting healthier lifestyles.
Figure 4. AI-based soft physical sensors for health/workout monitoring, VR/AR applications