Prednáška Prof. Hirotoma Nishiharu

Srdečne vás pozývame na zaujímavú prednášku profesora Hirotoma Nishiharu z Tohoku University v Sendai (Japonsko)

Názov: ARCHITECTING THREE-DIMENSIONAL CARBON STRUCTURES FOR VERSATILE APPLICATIONS

Dátum: 6 marec 2026 o 13.00 hod

Miestnosť: ÚACH SAV, miestnosť č. 107

ABSTRACT

Carbon materials are indispensable in modern electrochemical energy systems, serving as electrodes, catalyst supports, and adsorbents. Conventional carbon materials such as graphite, carbon black, and activated carbon exhibit distinct structural characteristics and functionalities; however, they are fundamentally constrained by trade-offs between crystallinity, electrical conductivity, oxidation resistance, and porosity. Overcoming these intrinsic trade-offs is a central challenge in carbon materials science.

In this lecture, I will present our recent efforts to architect three-dimensional carbon structures with precisely controlled porosity, crystallinity, and framework topology. By employing advanced template methods, zeolite-templating, and thermally stable sacrificial scaffolds, we have developed ordered microporous carbons, mesoporous graphene frameworks, and MOF-like crystalline carbons. These materials achieve high surface areas while maintaining structural order and electrical conductivity.

A key concept underlying our approach is “structure translation,” in which nanoscale structural information encoded in molecular or inorganic templates is faithfully transferred into carbon frameworks during carbonization. Furthermore, we introduce a new synthetic strategy toward ordered carbonaceous frameworks constructed from specially designed thermally polymerizable precursors. This method enables the formation of crystalline carbon frameworks with molecular-level active sites and tunable electronic structures.

Particular emphasis will be placed on three-dimensional graphene architectures such as Graphene MesoSponge®, which feature seamless graphene networks, interconnected mesopores, and high durability under high-voltage electrochemical conditions. These architected carbons exhibit exceptional performance in supercapacitors, electrocatalysis, and ion transport applications.

Through rational design of precursor chemistry, thermal processes, and nano- to macro-scale structural control, we demonstrate that it is possible to transcend conventional trade-offs and create multifunctional carbon materials for next-generation green energy technologies.

Brief biography:

Hirotomo Nishihara is a full professor at Tohoku University, Japan. Having obtained his academic degrees from Kyoto University (Japan), he spent most of his career working for Tohoku University up to date. He has received numerous scientific awards, including the prestigious Gottfried Wargener Prize in 2019 and the JSPS Prize in 2020. In 2022, he took his innovations into the business sphere by establishing a startup company, 3DC. As the Chief Science Officer, he is dedicated to the industrialization of a novel porous carbon material, graphene mesosponge, which he developed. His research interests include nanoporous materials and carbon-based materials. He also serves as an Editor of Carbon (Elsevier).