Young Researcher: Lecturer Ryo TOYOSHIMA

Lecturer　Department of Materials Engineering｜Uchida/Toyoshima Laboratory

Biography

In recent years, household appliances, cars, and buildings have increasingly become connected to the internet through the “Internet of Things (IoT).” If these devices could automatically assess the condition of the surrounding air, they would greatly contribute to society’s safety and comfort by enabling early detection of gas leaks, monitoring urban environments, and supporting health management. To achieve this, gas sensors that are compact, consume very little power, and operate stably over long periods are essential. However, the mechanism how gas sensors detect gases in the air, specifically, the reactions occurring on their surfaces, is still not fully understood. It is difficult to rationally design higher performance materials and devices without understanding these mechanisms. To address this challenge, I have been employing operando X‑ray measurements, which enable us to observe the sensor surface under working conditions. This enables direct visualization of how gases react on the sensor surface and how those reactions translate into electrical signals. The development of sensor materials with higher sensitivity, improved selectivity, and lower power consumption will be achieved by revealing these reaction mechanisms. Ultimately, we aim to realize next generation gas sensors that contribute to environmental monitoring and safety management through IoT technologies.

I aim to deepen our understanding of the reactions occurring on material surfaces and apply these insights to the design of new functional materials and devices. I also hope to translate the fundamental reaction mechanisms uncovered in my research into practical technologies that contribute to environmental monitoring, safety management, and other societal needs. By bridging fundamental science and real‑world applications, I aspire to help advance the development of a safer and more secure society.

I often conduct experiments at facilities outside the university, which gives me the chance to meet and work with people from diverse backgrounds. Being exposed to a wide range of fields from physics and chemistry to biology frequently inspires new ideas, and those moments of discovery are part of what makes research enjoyable for me.

Uchida/Toyoshima Laboratory: http://www.ssn.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ 

 *Affiliations and titles are as of the time of the interview.