Development of THz devices and applications for biological sensing Integrated Collaborative Research Program with Industry Terahertz Biological Sensing Research Laboratory The development in the medical applications using the terahertz (THz) wave is expected. We are developing two types of devices for the structural analysis of biomolecules and the clinical diagnosis using THz spectrum. One is a micro-filter membrane device. It is useful tool that enables us to analyze samples in solution, which has been difficult so far in THz spectroscopy, and can study conformations of the nucleic acids and proteins. Another is a high sensitive transmission line sensor device that makes label-free DNA sensing possible at femto-mole level. We also report the utility of the devices for analyzing some biomolecules. Gadolinium-Metallocene as Next Generation Polymerization Catalyst for Production of Synthetic Rubber Integrated Collaborative Research Program with Industry Elastomer Precision Polymerization Laboratory Plasmonic metamaterials Nanophotonics Laboratory Plasmonic metamaterials Light is electromagnetic radiation that consists of electric and magnetic field. When a beam of light hits a material, only the electric component of the light interacts with the material while the magnetic component does not. This is because almost all materials found in nature does not have the magnetism in the light frequency region. In our laboratory, we are developing novel and optically functional materials that have magnetic response using nano-scale metallic resonators arranged in array structure. This artificial material is termed as "plasmonic metamaterials". Using metamaterial technology, we can create novel optical functional devices which could never be seen before. In this exhibition, we will present recent research progress in metamaterials and their applications for novel optical functional devices. Nanoscale Visualization by Near-field Raman Microscope Nanophotonics Laboratory When a light is focused by an objective lens, the size of the focused spot is limited by the diffraction limit of light, which corresponds to the wavelength of the light (~500 nm). This wave nature of light determines the spatial resolution of optical microscopes. However, near-field microscope can go beyond the diffraction limit of light. We introduce the visualization of molecular distributions with 15 nm spatial resolution. Easy and sensitive immunoassay on a microchip Bioengineering Laboratory Immunoassay is a chemical analysis method utilizing antigen-antibody binding, and is widely used for clinical diagnosis and food inspection. We have realized an easy and sensitive immunoassay by developing two original, independent technologies: the "power-free" (pump-less) microchip and a novel signal amplification method. As an example, we will show the results of detection of C-reactive protein, a disease marker. Compared to the conventional immunoassay methods, the new method yielded an equivalent or better sensitivity, while consuming 1/10 of analysis time and 1/100 of sample volume. Two-dimensional arrangement of single molecular lines formed by the radical chain reactions Surface Chemistry Laboratory The studies of functional molecular devices in electronic circuits have been conducted for the realization of future integrated circuits and for the response to a variety of further needs, in which techniques of molecular arrangement and wiring in molecular scale are important. In the studies, we succeeded to make the predesigned two-dimensional growth of molecular lines through radical chain reactions on the hydrogen-terminated Si(001) surfaces. By extensions of this achievement, the studies of the single molecular devices should be evolved.　 Nano-precision mechanical fabrication system Materials Fabrication Laboratory The main objective of our research is the development of revolutionary and new material processing technologies in grinding, lapping, polishing, cutting and forming for an extensive range of materials. Through advanced research activities on ultraprecision, nanoprecision and ultra-smooth machining processes, required for the fabrication of advanced functional devices such as optical and electronic components, we launched the research of a new field of micro-mechanical fabrication technologies in addition to surface functional modification, measurement and evaluation techniques, aiming at a wide variety of materials, and precision and scale ranging from micrometer to nanometer level, to meet practical and applied industrial needs. Fabrication of Nano-structure by Electrospray Deposition (ESD) Method and it’s Applications RIKEN Ventures Fuence　Co.,LTD. Esprayer ® Ep-2000 series Electrospray deposition is a method to spray sample liquid by applying high voltage between capillary and substrate. Sprayed droplets are charged and split into nano-size perticles or fibers instantly. These nano-size materials and fine technology have been applied to such as high performance filters, tissue engineering, electrodes, display devices, biosensors, and have been expected to contribute to various fields. The exhibition and spray demonstration of lab size ESD equipment (ES-2000) are scheduled on the day, and you can experience fabricating nano-fibers at our booth. Development of Solid Acid Fuel Cells with Nano Membrene RIKEN Ventures NanoMembrane Technologies Inc. Aluminosilicate nanomembranes that have been developed at RIKEN On the basis of original research at RIKEN, we develop unique nanomembrane technologies. In particular, nanometer-thick ceramic membranes will be used as a core component of the next-generation fuel cell systems.