News

A research group led by Prof. Masahiro Miyauchi at Tokyo Institute of Technology, which includes Mitsubishi Materials Corporation's employees, has successfully synthesized a tin oxide with a new crystal structure as a photocatalyst (substance that absorbs light and promotes chemical reactions) capable of reducing carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, as part of a joint research program at the Mitsubishi Materials Sustainability Innovation Collaborative Research Cluster established at Tokyo Institute of Technology in September 2022.

Conventionally, challenges with photocatalytic materials that function by visible light, which account for more than half of solar energy, include the content of expensive metallic elements and the use of materials that have problems with toxicity. In recent years, it has been known that tin oxides with a certain specific crystal structure function as a photocatalyst under visible light.
The tin oxide with the new crystal structure successfully synthesized in this study can absorb a wider range of visible light than conventional tin oxides. In addition, because of the strong reducing power of electrons generated by absorbing light, it may be usable as a photocatalyst that can reduce carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide. We made contributions in the process of identifying the substance structure and properties of the tin oxide with the new crystal structure by using our simulation technology, for which we have accumulated know-how.

This study is expected to be applied to artificial photosynthesis systems in the future as a utilization of carbon dioxide. Tokyo Institute of Technology has issued press release about the research findings. Please refer to below for details.

Attachment: Tokyo Institute of Technology press release

[Related release]
September 15, 2022
Mitsubishi Materials and Tokyo Institute of Technology established
Mitsubishi Materials Sustainability Innovation Collaborative Research Cluster
URL : https://www.mmc.co.jp/corporate/en/news/2022/news20220915.html