A group of researchers from Kyushu University, led by Professor Yoshihiro Yamazaki from the Department of Materials Science and Technology, Platform of Inter-/Transdisciplinary Energy Research (Q-PIT), in collaboration with Osaka University and the Fine Ceramics Center, have developed a machine learning framework to expedite the discovery of materials needed for green energy technology. Using this new approach, the team has identified and synthesized two new candidate materials for solid oxide fuel cells (devices that generate energy using fuels like hydrogen and do not emit carbon dioxide in the process).

The discovery was published in the Advanced Energy Materials journal and has implications beyond the energy sector, as it can speed up the search for other innovative materials.

The research group consisting of Yuta Shimizu, Specially Appointed Assistant Professor Junji Hyodo, and Professor Yoshihiro Yamazaki (Kyushu University’s Platform for Inter-/Transdisciplinary Energy Research (Q-PIT), Inamori Frontier Research Center and Master’s Program in Materials Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering) in collaboration with Assistant Professor Susumu Fujii (Department of Materials Production Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University), and Chief Researcher Akihide Kuwahara (Nanostructures Research Laboratory, Japan Fine Ceramics Center), have developed a design guidelines for proton-conductive oxides using computation and data science, and have successfully synthesized several unconventional proton-conductive oxides in just one experiment. This material design guideline is expected to significantly advance the development of proton-conducting oxides and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) that utilize them. In addition, applying the established search method to other materials is expected to accelerate the development of innovative materials in various fields.

九州大学エネルギー研究教育機構(Q-PIT)、稲盛フロンティア研究センターおよび大学院工学府材料物性工学専攻修士課程の清水雄太氏、兵頭潤次特任助教、山崎仁丈教授の研究グループは、大阪大学大学院工学研究科マテリアル生産科学専攻の藤井進助教、ファインセラミックスセンターナノ構造研究所の桑原彰秀主席研究員と共同で、計算とデータ科学を用いてプロトン伝導性酸化物の設計指針を構築し、たった一度の実験で非従来型プロトン伝導性酸化物を複数合成することに成功しました。この材料設計指針を用いることで、プロトン伝導性酸化物やそれを利用した固体酸化物形燃料電池（SOFC）の開発が大幅に進展することが見込まれます。また、構築した探索手法を他材料へと応用することで、革新的材料開発が様々な分野で加速されることが期待されます。