Operations
DIRECTOR
Jun Tanimoto
Executive Vice President
SENIOR ADVISER
Sunita Satyapal
Special Advisor to the President
ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS
Tatsumi Ishihara
Professor
Faculty of Engineering
Hydrogen Institute for Sustainability
International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
Faculty of Engineering
Hydrogen Institute for Sustainability
International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
Hisao Matsunaga
Professor
Faculty of Engineering
Hydrogen Institute for Sustainability
Faculty of Engineering
Hydrogen Institute for Sustainability
Kazunari Sasaki
Professor
Faculty of Engineering
Hydrogen Institute for Sustainability
International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
Faculty of Engineering
Hydrogen Institute for Sustainability
International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
Shin Nishimura
Professor
Hydrogen Institute for Sustainability
Hydrogen Institute for Sustainability
Hydrogen Production Research Division
DIVISION HEAD
Tatsumi Ishihara
- Jointly Appointed Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Engineering
International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
Research Interests
Development of New Energy Storage Devices and Materials Using Electrochemical Devices
Metal-air batteries /
Solid oxide fuel cells /
High-temperature electrolysis /
Green hydrogen /
CO2 reduction
Katsuro Hayashi
- Full-time Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Engineering
Research Interests
Development of New Functions Through the Integration of Sodium Solid Electrolytes and Electrode Materials
All-solid-state batteries /
Alkali metals /
Hydrides /
Interfaces /
Non-equilibrium processes
Tsuyohiko Fujigaya
- Full-time Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Engineering
Research Interests
Development of Highly Active and Durable Fuel Cell Catalysts and Electrolyte Membranes
Electrode catalysts /
Nanocarbon /
Hydrogen energy /
Polymer electrolytes /
Polybenzimidazole /
Yasuhiro Yamada
- Jointly Appointed Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Engineering
Research Interests
The Frontier at Our Feet: Exploring Underground Energy
Natural hydrogen /
Geothermal energy /
Mantle resources /
Drilling information science
Junji Hyodo
- Jointly Appointed Faculty
Associate Professor, International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
Research Interests
Development of High-Performance Energy Materials Through Defect Control
Ion-conducting ceramics /
Defect chemistry /
Electrochemistry /
Fuel cells /
Photocatalysts
Hiroshige Matsumoto
- Jointly Appointed Faculty
Professor
International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
Research Interests
Hydrogen Production via Steam and Water Electrolysis Using Proton-Conducting Metal Oxides and Fuel Cells
Proton-conducting metal oxides /
Steam electrolysis /
Water electrolysis /
Fuel cells
Affiliated Faculty
Motonori Watanabe
- Affiliated Faculty
Associate Professor, International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
Research Interests
Organic-inorganic composite materials for photocatalytic reaction
Organic-inorganic composites /
Hydrogen /
Water Splitting /
Photocatalyst
Shigenori Fujikawa
- Affiliated Faculty
Professor, International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
Research Interests
Development of functional membranes using self-supporting nanomembranes; Construction of functional interfaces using interfacial nanostructures
Self-supporting nanomembranes /
Interfacial nanostructures /
CO₂ separation /
Membrane separation /
Photofunctional interfaces
Miki Inada
- Affiliated Faculty
Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering
Research Interests
Fabrication of environmentally friendly caramics
Ceramics /
Environmental purification /
Energy /
Liquid phase reaction
Toshinori Matsushima
- Affiliated Faculty
Associate Professor, International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
Research Interests
Basic and Applied Research on Metal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells
Metal halide perovskites /
Solar cells /
Light-emitting devices /
Analysis of electrical, electronic, and optical properties /
Elucidation of degradation mechanisms
Hydrogen Delivery and Storage Research Division
DIVISION HEAD
Hisao Matsunaga
- Full-time Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Engineering
Director, Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Director, Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Hydrogen embrittlement of metallic materials
Hydrogen embrittlement /
Metallic materials /
Codes and standards /
Strength design /
Strength of materials
Akari Hayashi
- Jointly Appointed Faculty
Professor, Energy Research and Education Center
Research Interests
Integration of Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Energy / —Development of Water Electrolysis Cells, hydrogen storage materials and Fuel
Hydrogen /
Renewable energy /
Electrochemical devices /
Water electrolysis /
Fuel cells
Kazuyuki Yagi
- Full-time Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Engineering /Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
A Study on Reducing Friction Losses
Tribology /
Lubrication /
Friction /
Surface texture /
Direct observation
Toshiyuki Kondo
- Full-time Faculty
Associate professor,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Research Interests
Material strength of metallic micro/nano material
Mechanics and strength of materials /
Metallic micro /
Nano material
Wenxiao Li
- Full-time Faculty
Assistant Professor, Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Tribological Properties of Polymer Composites in Hydrogen Atmospheres
Polymer composites /
Hydrogen /
Friction /
Wear /
Piston ring
Shigeru Hamada
- Full-time Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Engineering
Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Balancing safety and cost-effectiveness in the design of equipment made of metallic materials
Metal fatigue /
Fracture mechanics /
Material strength /
Hydrogen embrittlement /
Computational mechanics
Affiliated Faculty
Masanobu Kubota
- Affiliated Faculty
Professor, International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
Research Interests
Hydrogen compatible materials, Hydrogen embrittlement and mitigation of hydrogen embrittlement, creep in high-temperature hydrogen
Hydrogen embrittlement /
Creep /
Metal fatigue /
Strength of materials
Yoshinori Sawae
- Affiliated Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Engineering, International Institute for Carbon-Nutral Energy Research
Research Interests
Polymer Tribology in Hydrogen
Hydrogen /
Friction /
Wear /
Polymer /
Composite
Naoya Sakoda
- Affiliated Faculty
Professor, Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Study of the Thermal Properties of Hydrogen Blends and New Refrigerants for HVAC Equipment with Low Global Warming Potential
Hydrogen mixture properties /
Low-GWP refrigerants /
Hydrofluoroolefins /
Precision thermal property measurement
Keiji Tanaka
- Affiliated Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Engineering
Research Interests
Applications of Interface Functions in Polymer Materials
Polymer materials /
Surfaces, interfaces, and thin films /
Adhesives /
Material weight reduction
Miho Yamauchi
- Affiliated Faculty
Professor, Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering
Research Interests
Development of Low-Environmental-Impact Energy and Material Conversion Processes
Inorganic chemistry /
Physical chemistry /
Nanochemistry /
Catalytic chemistry /
Electrochemistry
Hiroyoshi Tanaka
- Affiliated Faculty
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering
Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Establishment of experimental and evaluation methods to enhance the safety and durability of hydrogen-powered equipment, and investigation of underlying principles
Tribology /
Hydrogen-powered equipment /
Mechanical components /
Coatings /
Rolling fatigue
Sungcheol Park
- Affiliated Faculty
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering
Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Evaluation of the mechanical behavior of metallic materials in hydrogen environments
Hydrogen embrittlement /
Fatigue strength /
Fatigue crack growth /
Fracture toughness /
Additive manufacturing
Research Professor
Masahiro Kasai
- Research Professor
Research Professor, Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Development of Basic technology for Hydrogen refueling station
Hydrogen refueling station /
High-puressure hydrogen /
Polymer materials for seals or liner /
Analysis of nano-scale structure
Takashi Kuriyama
- Research Professor
Research Professor, Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Product Design and International Standard Development Through Analysis of the Mechanical Behavior of Polymer Materials and Composite Materials
Strength of polymeric materials /
Environmental degradation for plastics /
Fatigue and creep
Mitsuo Shibutani
- Research Professor
Research Professor, Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Design of Hydrogen‑Barrier Materials for High‑Pressure Applications
Polymer alloy /
Free‑volume control /
Coatability /
Moisture resistance /
Mechanical properties
Takashi Nakamura
- Research Professor
Research Professor,Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Development of fatigue strength of metallic materials, material strength in hydrogen environments, and surface modification technologies using mechanical driving forces
Metal fatigue /
Very high cycle fatigue /
Hydrogen embrittlement /
Surface modification
Fumitoshi Kaneko
- Research Professor
Research Professor, Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Effects of high-pressure gases on polymer material Structures
Vibrational spectroscopy /
X-ray scattering /
In-situ measurements /
Polymer materials
Yasushi Shimizu
- Research Professor
Research Professor, Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage(Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Evaluation of Strength Properties and Hydrogen Compatibility of Metallic Materials in Gaseous Hydrogen Environments
Metallic materials /
Hydrogen environment /
Hydrogen embrittlement /
Metal fatigue /
Material selection criteria
Joichi Sugimura
- Research Professor
Research Professor, Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Hydrogen Tribology
Tribology /
Hydrogen /
Seals /
Fittings /
Interfacial phenomena
Takehiro Morita
- Research Professor
Research Assistant Professor, Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Friction＆Wear Resistance, Decomposition Gas Generation, and High-Pressure Hydrogen Properties of Existing Polymer Composites
Existing polymer composites /
Friction ＆ wear resistance /
Decomposition gas generation /
High-pressure hydrogen properties
Hydrogen Utilization Research Division
DIVISION HEAD
Kazunari Sasaki
- Full-time Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Engineering
International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
Next‐Generation Fuel Cell Research Center (Until FY 2025)
International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy (Until FY 2025)
International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research
Next‐Generation Fuel Cell Research Center (Until FY 2025)
International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Materials and Processes for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
Hydrogen energy /
Fuel cells /
Water electrolysis /
Electrochemistry /
Industry-Academia-Government collaboration
Kohei Ito
- Full-time Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Engineering
International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy (Until FY 2025)
International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Research and development of SOFC and PEFC materials, system design, and control technologies
PEMFC /
Fuel cell /
Mass transport /
Boiling /
Three-electrode cell /
High-speed, high-resolution bubble observation /
Overvoltage separation
Masamichi Nishihara
- Full-time Faculty
Professor, International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Research on Polymer Materials for Hydrogen Energy Devices
Fuel cells /
Water electrolysis /
Polymer electrolyte /
Polymer chemistry
Junko Matsuda
- Full-time Faculty
Professor, Next‐Generation Fuel Cell Research Center (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Structural Analysis and In-Situ Observation of Energy-Related Materials Using Electron Microscopy
Fuel cells /
Water electrolysis /
Catalysts /
Transmission electron microscopy /
In-situ observation
Tatsumi Kitahata
- Jointly Appointed Faculty
Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering/International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Research on Gas Diffusion Layers for Improving Fuel Cell Performance
Zero emissions /
Hydrogen /
Fuel cells /
Gas diffusion layer /
Marine fuel cells
Zhiun Noda
- Full-time Faculty
Assistant Professor, Next‐Generation Fuel Cell Research Center (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Development of Highly Active and Durable Platinum Alloy Catalysts for Solid Polymer Fuel Cells
Fuel cells /
Electrochemistry /
Catalyst, alloy catalyst /
Carbon–metal oxide composite support material
WEBER L. Moritz
- Full-time Faculty
Assistant Professor, Next‐Generation Fuel Cell Research Center (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Exploring design strategies for oxide catalysts used in green hydrogen-based energy conversion technologies.
Nanoparticle exsolution /
Perovskite oxides /
Electrocatalysis /
Oxide epitaxy /
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Gen Inoue
- Full-time Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Engineering
Research Interests
Evaluation and Performance Enhancement of Internal Phenomena in Fuel Cells and Rechargeable Batteries through Measurement, Numerical Simulation, and Data Science
Fuel cells /
Rechargeable batteries /
Structural measurement /
Numerical simulation /
Data Science
Shunsuke Taniguchi
- Full-time Faculty
Professor, Next‐Generation Fuel Cell Research Center (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and High-Temperature Steam Electrolysis
Solid oxide fuel cells /
Durability /
Stainless steal
Koji Miyazaki
- Full-time Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Engineering
Research Interests
Micro-Nano Thermal Engineering
Thermal properties /
Heat exchange /
Heat conduction /
Radiative heat transfer /
First-principles calculations
Yuya Tachikawa
- Full-time Faculty
Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering/Next‐Generation Fuel Cell Research Center (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Development of visualization technologies for devices and societies that provide insights into the future of hydrogen and renewable energy
Hydrogen /
Fuel cells /
Electrolysis /
Energy utilization technologies /
Visualization
Masahiro Yasutake
- Jointly Appointed Faculty
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering
Next‐Generation Fuel Cell Research Center (Until FY 2025)
Next‐Generation Fuel Cell Research Center (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Research and development of electrode materials to improve the efficiency and durability of fuel cells and water electrolysis cells
Hydrogen energy /
Fuel cells /
Water electrolysis /
Electrochemistry /
Porous transport layer
Affiliated Faculty
Kazunari Katayama
- Affiliated Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Engineering Sciences
International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy (Until FY 2025)
International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Development of Next-Generation Energy Systems
Nuclear fusion /
Tritium /
Hydrogen /
Molten salt /
Mass transfer
Yuriko Hayabuchi
- Affiliated Faculty
Professor, Research and Education Center for Offshore Wind
Next‐Generation Fuel Cell Research Center(Until FY 2025)
Next‐Generation Fuel Cell Research Center(Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Research and Evaluation of Social System Design for the Realization of a Sustainable Low-Carbon Society
Greenhouse gas calculation and assessment /
International framework on climate change /
Plastic recycling /
Environmental behavior change /
Environmental education
International and Interdisciplinary Collaboration Research Division
DIVISION HEAD
Shin Nishimura
- Full-time Faculty
Professor, Hydrogen Institute for Sustainability
Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Polymer materials compatible with high-pressure hydrogen
Polymer science /
Thermoplastic resin, Thermosetting resin /
Fracture mechanism of polymers under high-pressure hydrogen /
Structure analysis of polymers under high-pressure hydrogen
Shigemi Kagawa
- Jointly Appointed Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Economics
Research Interests
Research on the Decarbonization of Supply Chains
Environmental and economic assessment of circular socio-economic systems /
Analysis of sustainable consumption patterns /
Analysis of the relationship between international trade and energy and the environment
Tomoaki Nakaishi
- Jointly Appointed Faculty
Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics
Research Interests
Sustainability Analysis of Production and Consumption
Sustainable production and consumption /
Sustainable development goals /
Decarbonization /
Consumer behavior analysis /
Production efficiency analysis
Masamichi Kohno
- Full-time Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Engineering
International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy (Until FY 2025)
International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Water-cooling technology in steel sheet manufacturing processes /Measurement of thermophysical properties / Fabrication of materials using high-pressure torsion and their thermal and electronic properties
Thermal properties /
Heat transfer during phase changes /
High-pressure strain
Hidemichi Fujii
- Jointly Appointed Faculty
Professor, Faculty of Economics
Research Interests
Research on the policies and systems necessary to achieve a balance between reducing environmental impact and economic development
Environmental innovation /
Productivity analysis /
Marginal abatement cost /
ESG investment /
Carbon credit
Affiliated Faculty
Takahiro Umeno
- Affiliated Faculty
Professor, Deputy Chief, Division Head of the High-Pressure Gas Safety Management Division, Office for Promotion of Environmental Management, Health and Safety,
Low Temperature Center
Low Temperature Center
Research Interests
Safety management and education for high-pressure gases / Research on a hydrogen-based society toward achieving carbon neutrality
High-pressure gas safety engineering /
Safety education and management for high-pressure gases /
Environment and safety /
Energy quantum engineering /
Cryogenics and superconductivity
Megumi Takata
- Affiliated Faculty
Professor, Kyushu University Business School (QBS)
Research Interests
Technology Commercialization & Entrepreneurship
Innovation /
Technology commercialization /
Entrepreneurship /
University industry collaboration
Shinji Onishi
- Affiliated Faculty
Professor, Academic Research and Industrial Collaboration Management Office of Kyushu University
Next‐Generation Fuel Cell Research Center(Until FY 2025)
Next‐Generation Fuel Cell Research Center(Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Intellectual Property Management, Utilization, and Technology Transfer
License /
Technology transfer
Research Professor
Katsumi Yokomoto
- Research Professor
Research Professor, Research Center for Hydrogen Industrial Use and Storage (Until FY 2025)
Research Interests
Hydrogen Production-Storage-Utilization System Research (Hydrogen R&D Hub)
Analytical chemistry /
Green environmental chemistry /
Energy systems engineering