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Mar 4, 2026
- NEWS
- Lecture / Seminar
The 2025 Research Center for Artificial Photosynthesis Activity Report Meeting was held.
On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the FY2025 Activity Report Meeting of the Research Center for Artificial Photosynthesis was held on-site at the Cultural Exchange Room of the Media Center on the Sugimoto Campus. The morning session included reports on research activities from each research department.
The afternoon session began with greetings from Professor Kevin C.-W. Wu (National Taiwan University), followed by a retrospective of the five years since the center’s departmentalization and presentations from seven students. This was followed by a special lecture delivered by Dr. Yukari Sato (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)).
The event concluded with remarks from Professor Masazumi Tamura, who transferred to Kyoto University this fiscal year, an award ceremony for the Student Activity Award and Student Presentation Award, and the closing remarks.
Greeting by Professor Kevin C.-W. Wu
Special lecture by Dr. Yukari Sato
(From left) Professor Amao, Associate Professor Ishida, Dr. Sato, the award recipients, Professor Kevin,
and Professor Yamada
The 2025 Research Center for Artificial Photosynthesis Student Activity Award
Kyosuke Yamada (Master’s Program, Second Year, Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science)
I would like to express my sincere gratitude for being presented with the Student Activity Award. I am truly grateful to the many people who have supported me along the way. In my research, there were times when results did not emerge as hoped; however, on each of those occasions, I was able to continue through trial and error by engaging in repeated discussions with my supervisor, Professor Amao, and my colleagues in the laboratory. I feel that this award is a result achieved together with everyone who supported one another. Furthermore, the experience of discussing my work with researchers from both Japan and abroad at academic conferences served as an opportunity to broaden my perspective. I feel that the experience of conveying the significance of my research in my own words and being receptive to different viewpoints has become a precious asset as I enter society. Although I will now embark on a new path as a working professional, I will never forget the spirit of inquiry cultivated through my research activities and will strive to grow into an individual capable of creating new value for society. Thank you very much.
Shintaro Yoshikawa (Master’s Program, Second Year, Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science)
I am deeply honored to receive the prestigious Student Activity Award. Over the past three years, I have been engaged in research on hydrogen energy at the Research Center for Artificial Photosynthesis. I am profoundly grateful to my supervisor, Professor Amao, for providing such a privileged research environment, and to everyone in the laboratory for their support, which made this award possible. Moreover, the valuable experiences gained through writing research papers and participating in international conferences became a major turning point, allowing me to refine my expertise and broaden my interdisciplinary and international perspectives. Although I will move to a new environment starting next fiscal year, I will continue to devote myself to applying the experiences gained through my research activities to become a person who can provide new value to society.
Professor Amao and Mr. Yamada
Professor Amao and Mr. Yoshikawa
The 2025 Research Center for Artificial Photosynthesis Student Presentation Award
(Platinum Award)
Kosei Arata (First-year Doctoral Student, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University)
I am deeply honored to receive this presentation award. It has been about a year since I moved to Osaka, and while I am still navigating my new research and daily life, I am sincerely grateful for the tremendous support and assistance provided by the professors and everyone at the center. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the faculty members at both Tokyo Metropolitan University and Osaka Metropolitan University for their extensive guidance and advice in advancing this research. As there is still significant room for improvement in catalyst design and the elucidation of reaction mechanisms, I will continue to strive further to report even better research results in the future. Thank you very much.
(Gold Award)
Seiya Iwai (Second-year Master’s Student, Graduate School of Engineering)
I would like to express my sincere gratitude for being selected for the Student Presentation Award. This past year has truly reaffirmed how much I am supported by so many people. Following last year, I received a great deal of guidance and advice from Professor Tamura, Specially Appointed Lecturer Kita, and the staff and students of the Tamura Laboratory. Furthermore, as the research environment underwent changes this year, Professor Yamada and Specially Appointed Lecturer Nakazono provided me with extensive consultation to help me continue my ongoing research. I am also grateful to everyone in the Yamada Laboratory for welcoming me so warmly and teaching me many things, including the use of their laboratory facilities. Additionally, I received immense cooperation from the members of the Ishida Laboratory regarding the use of measurement equipment. Moving forward, I will continue to work even harder, keeping in mind my gratitude for the fact that my research is made possible by the support of so many individuals.
(Silver Award)
Yuya Yamakawa (Fourth-year Student, Faculty of Engineering)
I am very pleased to receive this presentation award. I believe I was able to receive such an award thanks to the professors who guide me daily, as well as the seniors and peers who have supported me. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you. Encouraged by this award, I will dedicate myself even more to my research activities.
Toshiaki Tsukuo (Fourth-year Student, Faculty of Science)
Thank you very much for providing me with this precious opportunity to present my research. I am also deeply honored to receive such a prestigious presentation award. Using the recognition I have received as motivation, I will continue to strive even harder in both my research and my future presentations.
Professor Amao and Mr. Arata
Professor Amao and Mr. Iwai
Professor Amao and Mr. Yamakawa
Professor Amao and Mr. Tsukuo
Professor Amao, Mr. Tsukuo, Mr. Yoshikawa, and Mr. Yamada
Associate Professor Ishida and Mr. Arata
Professor Yamada, Mr. Yamakawa, Mr. Iwai,
and Specially Appointed Lecturer Nakazono
Established in 2013, the Research Center for Artificial Photosynthesis marked its fifth anniversary in the 2025 fiscal year since being reorganized as an independent university department in 2020.
We are pleased to present a report on the research activities conducted by each research division during the 2025 fiscal year, explained in an accessible manner for the general public.
- Date and Time: Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 10:00–17:00
- Venue: Cultural Exchange Room, 1st Floor, Media Center, Sugimoto Campus, Osaka Metropolitan University
Campus Map: Number 11 ( https://www.omu.ac.jp/about/campus/sugimoto/) - Target Audience: General Public and Students
- Admission: Free
- Co-organizers:
Chemistry Human Resource Development Program
Joint Research Center for Catalysis and Measurement Science
Research Group on Carbon Dioxide Conversion Catalysts, The Catalysis Society of Japan
Research Group on Bio-related Catalysts, The Catalysis Society of Japan
Carbon Neutral Coalition Promotion Office / Innovation Working Group
Registration closed at 12:00 (noon) on Monday, March 2, 2026.
Special Lecture
 |
[Storing Electricity in Liquids: Redox Flow Batteries] Dr. Yukari Sato (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) |
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Activity Report Meeting Program
- Activity reports from the four research divisions and cooperating laboratories
- Activity report marking the fifth anniversary of the center’s establishment as an independent department
- Special lecture by an external researcher
- Presentation of research results by students dedicated to research at the center
And many other insightful sessions
⇒The 2025 Research Center for Artificial Photosynthesis Activity Report Meeting Flyer (Japanese ver.)
プログラム
| 10:00- | Reception Desk Opens |
|---|---|
| 10：30 | Opening Remarks |
| 10：35−10：50 | Activity Report of the Research Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (Professor Yutaka Amao) |
Activity Reports from Research Divisions and Cooperating Laboratories
| 10：50−11：05 | Biocatalyst Research Division Activity Report (Professor Yutaka Amao) |
|---|---|
| 11：05−11：20 | Heterogeneous Catalyst Research Division Activity Report (Professor Tamao Ishida) |
| 11：20−11：35 | Chemical Reaction Field Research Division Activity Report (Professor Yasuo Matsubara) |
| 11：35−11：50 | Inorganic Energy Chemistry Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering Activity Report (Associate Professor Yusuke Yamada) |
| 11：50−13：30 Lunch Break | |
| 13：30−13：40 | Greetings from Professor Kevin Kevin C.-W. Wu (Professor, National Taiwan University) |
| 13：40−14：00 | Commemorating the Fifth Anniversary of the Center's Reorganization as an Independent Department (Professor Yutaka Amao) |
| 14：00−14：10 Break (Time Adjustment and Preparation) | |
Student Research Presentations (7 minutes for presentation and 3 minutes for Q&A)
| 14：10−14：40 | [ Investigation of Gold Catalysts Supported on Layered Double Hydroxides for Selective CO Oxidation ] Riku Suzuki (Heterogeneous Catalyst Research Division / Graduate School of Urban Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University) |
|---|---|
| [ Synthesis of Benzoic Acid via CO2 Insertion into Benzene Using Supported Metal Catalysts ] Kosei Arata (Heterogeneous Catalyst Research Division / Graduate School of Urban Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University) |
|
| [ Development of a CO2 Concentration Measurement Method Using pH-Responsive Fluorescent Molecule-Immobilized Membranes ] Toshiaki Tsukuo (Biocatalytic Chemistry Division / Graduate School of Science) |
|
| 14：40−14：50 Break | |
| 14：50−15：30 | [ Structural Changes Induced by Insolubilization via Cation Addition to Soluble Cyano-Bridged Metal Complexes and Their Catalytic Activity Toward Water Oxidation ] Mitsuki Akita (Inorganic Energy Chemistry Laboratory / Graduate School of Engineering) |
| [ Catalytic Activity of Heterodinuclear Complexes Containing Iron and Cobalt Toward Electrochemical Water Oxidation ] Yuya Yamakawa (Inorganic Energy Chemistry Laboratory / Graduate School of Engineering) |
|
| [ Development of Heterogeneous Catalysts Effective for Carbon–Carbon Bond-Forming Reactions Between Alkynes and Dialkyl Carbonates ] Seiya Iwai (Inorganic Energy Chemistry Laboratory / Graduate School of Engineering) |
|
| [ Generation of Vacant Coordination Sites by Introducing High-Valence Counter Cations into Cobalt-Barium 1,2-Dithiooxalate Coordination Polymers ] Fumitaka Nishiyama(Inorganic Energy Chemistry Laboratory / Graduate School of Engineering) |
|
| 15:30-15:50 Break (Time Adjustment and Preparation) | |
Special Lecture
| 15：50ー16：50 | [Storing Electricity in Liquids: Redox Flow Batteries] Dr. Yukari Sato (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) |
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| 16：50 | Award Ceremony (Student Activity Award and Student Presentation Award) and Closing Remarks |
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Important Notes
- There will be no online streaming available for general participants.
- Please refrain from attending the event if you are feeling unwell on the day of the session.
Contact Information
Research Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Osaka Metropolitan University
3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
E-mail: recap-colab[at]ml.omu.ac.jp (Please replace [at] with @)