Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences
Tohoku University

On-site only   Date and Time: 2025/12/08 (Monday), 13:15 - 17:30   Meeting Overview: The International Symposium on Advanced Materials and Characterizations for Energy Storage Devices will bring together seven excellent material scientists from Japan and abroad to discuss the latest advances in sustainable materials, electrode interfaces, and state-of-the-art characterization techniques for next-generation batteries. The symposium will cover topics ranging from sustainable structural and carbon-based current collector materials to operando spectroscopy, interface engineering, and superoxide battery chemistry, highlighting innovative strategies for achieving high-performance, eco-friendly energy storage systems.   Registration Method: No registration needed, free to join on-site.   Venue: TOKYO ELECTRON House of Creativity (B02), 3rd floor, Katahira (知の館 (B02), 3階講義室, 片平)   Organizer: Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS) Contact Information: Dr. Wei YU (FRIS);  Email: yu.wei.a3_@_tohoku.ac.jp (Please replace “_@_” with “@”.)  

The origins of extremely high-energy particles that fill the Universe - such as protons, electrons, and neutrinos - remain one of the longest-standing mysteries in modern astrophysics. A leading hypothesis suggests that "explosive transients," including massive stellar explosions (supernovae) and tidal disruption events (TDE) caused by stars being torn apart by black holes, could be the cosmic engines driving these energetic particles. Yet, this idea has never been rigorously tested.   A research team has conducted the first systematic search for optical counterparts to a neutrino "multiplet," a rare event in which multiple high-energy neutrinos are detected from the same direction within a short period. The event was observed by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, a massive detector buried deep within the Antarctic ice.   The team was led by Seiji Toshikage, a graduate student at Tohoku University's Graduate School of Science, Shigeo Kimura, a professor at Tohoku University's Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences (FRIS), and Masaomi Tanaka, also from the Tohoku University's Graduate School of Science.   By analyzing wide-field optical data that coincided both spatially and temporally with the neutrino multiplet, the researchers sought visible evidence of possible astrophysical sources. However, their investigation found no supernovae, TDEs, or other explosive transients at the corresponding times and positions.   Arrival direction of a high-energy neutrino multiplet event determined by the IceCube experiment, overlaid on the visible night sky (generated with Stellarium). The right panel shows a zoomed-in optical image of the same region. The red ellipse indicates the 1σ uncertainty estimated by IceCube. ©Stellarium, Zwicky Transient Facility   This absence of optical counterparts is, paradoxically, highly informative. The non-detection allows the team to place stronger constraints than ever before on how bright and how long such explosive events could be if they were to produce neutrino multiplets. The findings significantly narrow the possible origins of the Universe's most energetic particles and mark an important step toward solving one of astrophysics' most fundamental puzzles.   "Although we didn't find any transient sources this time, our results show that even non-detections can provide powerful insights," said Toshikage. "They help us refine our models and guide future searches for the true sources of high-energy neutrinos."   Looking ahead, the team plans to conduct rapid optical follow-up observations of newly detected neutrino multiplets as soon as the IceCube collaboration reports them. They expect that these efforts, building on the analysis methods developed in this study, will bring researchers closer to identifying the astrophysical engines that generate high-energy particles throughout the cosmos.   The study was published in The Astrophysical Journal on October 23, 2025.   Constraints on the luminosity and its evolution timescales of explosive transients that could serve as sources of high-energy particles, based on the present multi-messenger observations. The shaded regions indicate the parameter space that is excluded. The left panel shows the results for a luminous class of supernovae (so-called super luminous supernovae), while the right panel shows the results for tidal disruption events. The yellow boxes indicate typical luminosity and its evolution timescale ranges for each transient type. ©Seiji Toshikage et al.   Publication Details: Title: The First Search for Astronomical Transient as a Counterpart of a Month-timescale IceCube Neutrino Multiplet Event Authors: Seiji Toshikage, Shigeo S. Kimura, Nobuhiro Shimizu, Masaomi Tanaka, Shigeru Yoshida, Wataru Iwakiri, Tomoki Morokuma Journal: The Astrophysical Journal DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/adfedf

A research team has taken a major step forward in the field of spintronics, a technology that uses not only the charge but also the spin of electrons to create faster, smarter, and more energy-efficient electronic devices. Their discovery could pave the way for the next generation of memory chips that combine high speed with low power consumption.   In spintronic memory, information is stored using tiny magnetic regions called magnetic domains. A magnetic domain with its magnetic moments pointing upward represents a "1," while one pointing downward represents a "0." Data can be read or written by shifting these domains with an electric current. The boundaries between them, known as domain walls, play a crucial role, as moving domains means moving these walls. Achieving fast and efficient domain wall motion is essential for developing advanced memories such as magnetic shift registers and three-terminal magnetic random access memories (MRAM).   The researchers focused on an artificial antiferromagnetic thin film made of cobalt (Co), iridium (Ir), and platinum (Pt) layers. This carefully engineered structure, in which two Co layers are separated by an Ir layer and sandwiched between Pt layers, makes the two Co layers aligned in opposite directions - an arrangement known as antiferromagnetic coupling. The Pt layers help drive motion in the material through a phenomenon called the spin Hall effect, which generates streams of electron spins that push on the magnetic moments in the Co layers.   At first glance, it might seem that the spins generated from the top and bottom Pt layers would cancel each other out because they have opposite orientations. However, the team discovered that these opposing forces actually combine in a unique way, working together to move the domain walls instead of stopping them. This dual-torque mechanism was confirmed through both experiments and numerical simulations, marking the first demonstration of this type of spin-driven motion in such a material.   The researchers went a step further by introducing a subtle gradient in the thickness of the Co layers, breaking the structure's symmetry. This created an additional effective magnetic field that made it even easier to move the domain walls. As this field increased, less current was needed to drive the motion, and the walls moved faster, allowing for information to be processed more efficiently.   The findings open up new possibilities for energy-saving, high-speed spintronic memory devices. Technologies like magnetic domain wall memory and three-terminal MRAM, which use this type of domain wall motion, could play a key role in the digital infrastructure that supports artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things.   Image for electron spins acting on the antiferromagnetically-coupled artificial magnetic structures with domain wall. ©Takeshi Seki   "Our results show a new way to control domain wall motion using combined spin torques in an artificial antiferromagnet," said the research team. "This discovery could bring us closer to creating next-generation spintronic devices that are faster and consume far less energy than today's electronics," said Takeshi Seki, a professor at the Institute for Materials Research at Tohoku University, and co-author of the paper.   While spintronics has traditionally relied on ferromagnetic materials, antiferromagnetic spintronics is now emerging as a promising frontier, offering the potential for greater miniaturization and higher operation speeds. The team's demonstration of current-induced domain wall motion in an artificial antiferromagnetic structure marks an important milestone toward that goal. Moving forward, they aim to fine-tune the effective magnetic fields that control this motion, unlocking even higher performance and pushing spintronic technology into a new era.   Details of the researchers' breakthrough was published in the journal Advanced Science on October 17, 2025. Prof. Yuta Yamane from FRIS joined the research team.     Publication Details: Title: Efficient Manipulation of Magnetic Domain Wall by Dual Spin-Orbit Torque in Synthetic Antiferromagnets Authors: Hiroto Masuda, Yuta Yamane, Takaaki Dohi, Takumi Yamazaki, Rajkumar Modak, Ken-ichi Uchida, Jun'ichi Ieda, Mathias Kläui, Koki Takanashi, and Takeshi Seki Journal: Advanced Science DOI: 10.1002/advs.202514598   Press Release: Tohoku University https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/dual_torque_from_electron_spins_drives_magnetic_domain_wall_displacement.html

To successfully meet the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we need significant breakthroughs in clean and efficient energy technologies. Central to this effort is the development of next-generation energy storage systems that can contribute towards our global goal of carbon neutrality. Among many possible candidates, high-energy-density batteries have drawn particular attention, as they are expected to power future electric vehicles, grid-scale renewable energy storage, and other sustainable applications.   Lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) batteries stand out due to their exceptionally high theoretical energy density, which far exceeds that of conventional lithium-ion batteries. Despite this potential, their practical application has been limited by poor cycle life and rapid degradation. Understanding the root causes of this instability is a critical step toward realizing a sustainable and innovative energy future.   In a recent study, a Tohoku University research team led by Dr. Wei Yu (FRIS) Professor Hirotomo Nishihara (AIMR/IMRAM), and first author Zhaohan Shen (JSPS Fellow (DC1)) - with researchers from Gunma University, Kyushu Synchrotron Light Research Center, Manchester Metropolitan University (UK), and the University of Cambridge (UK) - addressed this long-standing challenge by synthesizing a high-purity (> 99%) 13C-labeled graphene mesosponge (13C-GMS).   "Graphene mesosponge is a hollow-structured material with sponge-like properties, such as high flexibility," explains Nishihara, "It has a unique structure that makes it useful for many different applications. In this case, we customized it to learn more about why batteries fail,"   This novel material, with high surface area and few edge sites, serves as a stable scaffold for loading polymorphic ruthenium (Ru) catalysts. By integrating quantitative characterization techniques and theoretical simulations, the team was able to clearly distinguish whether battery failure originates from carbon cathode degradation or electrolyte decomposition.   Synthesis process of GMS and 13C-GMS. ©Zhaohan Shen et al.   The results show that while reducing charge potential helps to suppress carbon cathode degradation, different Ru crystal phases induce varying degrees of electrolyte decomposition.   "Our findings allow us to point out the 'weakest link' in batteries - either the cathode or the electrolyte - which lets us know exactly what we need to improve to make Li-O2 batteries a more practical option," explains Yu.   Schematic illustration of the critical impact of Ru catalysts in Li-O2 batteries. ©Zhaohan Shen et al.   This breakthrough not only resolves a key controversy regarding the role of solid-state catalysts in Li-O2 batteries but also contributes to the global pursuit of sustainable energy storage solutions. By revealing the hidden mechanisms behind battery failure, the research provides new design principles for next-generation batteries that can support SDGs and accelerate innovation in clean energy systems.   The findings were published in Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy on September 29, 2025.     Publication Details: Title: High-Purity 13C-labeled Mesoporous Carbon Electrodes Decouple Degradation Pathways in Li-O2 Batteries with Polymorphic Ru Catalysts Authors: Zhaohan Shen, Wei Yu, Alex Aziz, Takeharu Yoshii, Yoshikiyo Hatakeyama, Eiichi Kobayashi, Thomas Kress, Xinyu Liu, Alexander C. Forse, Hirotomo Nishihara Journal: Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2025.126030   Press Release: Tohoku University https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/unmasking_the_culprits_of_battery_failure_with_a_graphene_mesosponge.html

Detecting dark matter - the mysterious substance that holds galaxies together - is one of the greatest unsolved problems in physics. Although it cannot be seen or touched directly, scientists believe dark matter leaves weak signals that could be captured by highly sensitive quantum devices.   In a new study, researchers at Tohoku University propose a way to boost the sensitivity of quantum sensors by connecting them in carefully designed network structures. These quantum sensors use the rules of quantum physics to detect extremely small signals, making them far more sensitive than ordinary sensors. Using these, accurately detecting the faint clues left behind from dark matter could finally become possible.   The study focuses on superconducting qubits, which are tiny electric circuits cooled to very low temperatures. These qubits are normally used as building blocks of quantum computers, but here they act as powerful quantum sensors. Just as a team working together can achieve more than a single person, linking many of these superconducting qubits in an optimized network allows them to detect weak dark matter signals much more effectively than any single sensor could on its own.   (Top left) Composition of the universe, showing that dark matter accounts for about 27%. (Top right) Proposed quantum sensor network, where superconducting qubits are connected in different graph structures. (Bottom) Estimation results demonstrating agreement with the true value, along with a comparison against quantum bounds. ©Tohoku University   The team tested different network patterns, such as ring, line, star, and fully connected graphs, using systems of four and nine qubits. They then applied variational quantum metrology (a method similar to training a machine-learning model) to optimize how the quantum states were prepared and measured. To refine the results, Bayesian estimation was used to filter out noise, much like sharpening a blurry image.   The findings were striking: optimized networks consistently outperformed traditional methods, even when realistic noise was introduced. This shows the approach can work on today's quantum devices.   "Our goal was to figure out how to organize and fine-tune quantum sensors so they can detect dark matter more reliably," said Dr. Le Bin Ho, lead author of the study. "The network structure plays a key role in enhancing sensitivity, and we've shown it can be done using relatively simple circuits."   Beyond dark matter, these quantum sensor networks could advance technologies such as quantum radar, gravitational wave detection, and ultra-precise timekeeping. Furthermore, they may one day improve GPS accuracy, enhance brain imaging with MRI, or help detect hidden underground structures.   "This research shows that carefully designed quantum networks can push the boundaries of what is possible in precision measurement," Dr. Ho added. "It opens the door to using quantum sensors not just in laboratories, but in real-world tools that require extreme sensitivity."   Looking ahead, the team plans to extend this approach to larger networks and explore ways to make the sensors more resistant to noise.   The findings were published in Physical Review D on October 1, 2025.   Publication Details: Title: Optimized quantum sensor networks for ultralight dark matter detection Authors: Adriel I. Santoso, Le Bin Ho Journal: Physical Review D DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/rv43-54zq   Press Release: Tohoku University https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/quantum_networks_bring_new_precision_to_dark_matter_searches.html  

Hybrid Event   The symposium aims to discuss the use of AI ethics standardization in the governance of social robots, specifically examining the challenges to regulating AI-enabled technologies due to an inability to keep up with the rapid legislative process. Incidentally, in addition to examining the regulation of social robots, we also explore regulatory frameworks that rely on non-binding, flexible AI ethics standards to ensure stakeholders can manage the risks of ethical, legal, and societal impacts (ELSI) from the perspective of ethical design. Registration https://x.gd/wC4m5 Deadline 2025/11/03   Date 2025/11/05-2025/11/07 Time 09:30a.m. /05:00p.m.   Venue Seminar Room, FRIS, Tohoku University     Website: https://2025.roboethics.design// LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/events/ias-frissymposiumonsocialrobots7379026824103649280/   Contact WENG Yueh Hsuan 　 @

Prof. Hideaki Fujiwara (Specially Appointed Associate Professor) at the Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, has published a study analyzing the scholarly impact of research papers based on early observations with the Subaru Telescope. The Subaru Telescope is an 8.2-meter optical-infrared telescope atop Maunakea, Hawaii, and operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan as one of the country’s leading astronomical research facilities.   This study evaluated astronomy papers published between 1996 and 2007 using bibliometric methods based on citation indicators. The analysis revealed that, although Subaru-based papers accounted for less than 10% of Japan’s total astronomy output, they achieved notably high citation performance, far exceeding the world average. The results highlight the scientific value of the Subaru Telescope and demonstrate the academic return of Japan’s large-scale research facilities in quantitative terms.   This research was published in the academic journal Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan on September 17, 2025. Publication Details: Title: A bibliometric analysis of the scholarly impact of early Subaru Telescope-based publications Author: Hideaki Fujiwara Journal: Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan DOI: 10.1093/pasj/psaf100 URL: https://academic.oup.com/pasj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pasj/psaf100/8256513  

Advances in spintronics have led to the practical use of magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM), a non-volatile memory technology that supports energy-efficient semiconductor integrated circuits. Recently, antiferromagnets−magnetic materials with no net magnetization−have attracted growing attention as promising complements to conventional ferromagnets. While their properties have been extensively studied, clear demonstrations of their technological advantages have remained elusive.   Now, researchers from Tohoku University, the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) have provided the first compelling evidence of the unique benefits of antiferromagnets. Their study shows that antiferromagnets enable high-speed, high-efficiency memory operations in the gigahertz range, outperforming their ferromagnetic counterparts. The findings were published in the journal Science on August 21, 2025.   (a) Schematic illustration of memory device consisting of chiral antiferromagnet Mn3Sn / nonmagnetic metal heterostructure (b) A scanning electron microscope image of the fabricated device with Mn3Sn nanodot and nonmagnetic metal channel. ©Yutaro Takeuchi et al.   The team used the chiral antiferromagnet Mn₃Sn, whose spins form a non-collinear arrangement, as the medium for writing digital information. They fabricated a nanoscale Mn₃Sn dot device and successfully induced coherent rotation of its antiferromagnetic texture using electric currents. This enabled fast, high-fidelity control of spin ordering.   The system achieved efficient switching with 0.1-nanosecond current pulses--faster than any ferromagnetic device--while requiring no external magnetic field. Remarkably, the device demonstrated 1,000 error-free switching cycles, a level of reliability not possible in ferromagnets.   "Achieving 1,000 switchings out of 1,000 trials with a 0.1-nanosecond current pulse at zero magnetic field has been unreachable for ferromagnets--but turns out not to be the case for antiferromagnets," said Yutaro Takeuchi, the paper's lead author.   (a) Switching probability versus current density and pulse width. (b) Illustration of switching (switching-back) dynamics through coherent spin rotation of chiral antiferromagnet (c) Demonstration of the 1,000/1,000 switching. (d) Pulse width dependence of normalized switching current in chiral antiferromagnet, conventional ferromagnets and ferrimagnets. ©Yutaro Takeuchi et al.   "This antiferromagnetic advantage stems from a qualitative difference in their switching dynamics," explained Yuta Yamane, who led the theoretical modeling. "In conventional ferromagnets, magnetization undergoes three-dimensional precessional motion. In contrast, antiferromagnetic switching is completed through two-dimensional rotation of the chiral spin structure with an effective inertial mass--a key factor not seen in ferromagnets."   Shunsuke Fukami, the project supervisor, emphasized the breakthrough: "Researchers had shown in recent years that antiferromagnets can do what ferromagnets can do. Our work, for the first time, shows that antiferromagnets can do what ferromagnets cannot do."   These results mark a significant step toward next-generation semiconductor device technology powered by antiferromagnets. By unlocking ultrafast and energy-efficient switching without external fields, the research opens up new pathways for spintronics-based memory and logic devices, advancing the pursuit of high-performance, low-power electronics.   Publication Details: Title: Electrical coherent driving of chiral antiferromagnet Authors: Yutaro Takeuchi, Yuma Sato, Yuta Yamane, Ju-Young Yoon, Yukinori Kanno, Tomohiro Uchimura, K. Vihanga De Zoysa, Jiahao Han, Shun Kanai, Jun'ichi Ieda, Hideo Ohno, and Shunsuke Fukami Journal: Science DOI: 10.1126/science.ado1611   Press Release: Tohoku University https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/antiferromagnets_outperform_ferromagnets_in_ultrafast_energyefficient_memory_operations.html  

Selecting the right material from countless possibilities remains a central hurdle in materials discovery. Theory-driven predictions and experiment‐based validations help us make informed selections, but their progress has long proceeded on separate tracks. A team of researchers at Tohoku University has now bridged this gap by constructing an AI‑built materials map that unifies literature‑derived experimental data with representative first‑principles computational data. This map could be a tool that leads researchers to the right material for a given situation - without wasting time getting lost along the way.   Data‑analysis workflow. Experimental and computational datasets are unified; crystal‑structure graphs, deep learning, and dimensionality reduction yield the materials map. ©Hashimoto et al. This "materials map" is a big graph with an axis for thermoelectric performance (zT) and structural similarity, with each datapoint representing a material. On this map, structurally analogous (i.e. similar) materials appear in close proximity. Because such materials are typically synthesized and evaluated using similar methods and devices, the map enables experimentalists to rapidly identify analogs of unknown high‑performance materials and to repurpose existing synthesis protocols as next steps, thereby reducing trial‑and‑error.   Led by Specially Appointed Associate Professor Yusuke Hashimoto and Professor Takaaki Tomai (FRIS) in collaboration with Assistant Professor Xue Jia and Professor Hao Li (WPI‑AIMR), the research study aimed to combine computational predictions with experiment-based data to provide the most accurate picture. The approach builds on a previously assembled integrated dataset that combines StarryData2 literature data with computed entries from the Materials Project. They used this information to train MatDeepLearn (MDL) combined with a message passing neural network (MPNN) on predictors of thermoelectric properties.   "By providing an intuitive, bird's‑eye view over many candidates, the map helps researchers to select promising targets at a glance, therefore it is expected to substantially shorten development timelines for new functional materials," remarks Hashimoto.   Developed materials map (left) and zoomed‑in view (right) showing thermoelectric performance (zT) together with structural similarity for efficient exploration. ©Hashimoto et al. Looking ahead, the team plans to extend this framework beyond thermoelectric to include magnetic and topological materials. They also plan to incorporate additional descriptors (e.g., magnetic, chemical, and topological features) toward a comprehensive, AI‑assisted materials‑design support platform.   This "materials map" allows researchers to easily spot look‑alike, potentially high‑performing materials. This can accelerate innovation, reduce development costs, and speed up the real‑world deployment of energy‑related technologies such as thermoelectric waste‑heat recovery that turns excess byproduct heat into usable energy.   The findings were published online in APL Machine Learning on July 28, 2025. Publication Details: Title: A materials map integrating experimental and computational data via graph-based machine learning for enhanced materials discovery Authors: Y. Hashimoto, X. Jia, H. Li, T. Tomai Journal: APL Machine Learning DOI: 10.1063/5.0274812   Press Release: Tohoku University https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/ai_powered_materials_map_speeds_up_materials_discovery.html Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University https://www.wpi-aimr.tohoku.ac.jp/en/achievements/press/2025/20250731_002017.html  

A research team led by Linda Zhang at Tohoku University has developed a novel metal-organic framework (MOF) that enables record-breaking separation of hydrogen isotopes, achieving a D2/H2 selectivity of 32.5 at 60 K.    The findings, published in Nature Communications on July 1, 2025, represent a major advance in the quest for energy-efficient deuterium production. Figure: Illustration of isotope-selective adsorption in the MOF [Mn(ta)2]. Hydrogen (blue) and deuterium (red) molecules interact differently with the two distinct adsorption sites, inducing structural expansion that drives the separation process. (Credit: Linda Zhang) Deuterium, a stable isotope of hydrogen, is indispensable for a wide range of technologies, including nuclear fusion reactors, semiconductor processing, optical fibers, and deuterium-labeled pharmaceuticals. However, its chemical similarity to ordinary hydrogen makes isotopic separation extremely challenging. Traditional methods such as cryogenic distillation operate at -250°C and consume large amounts of energy, making them environmentally and economically costly.   The reported MOF, based on a triazolate ligand and manganese ions, demonstrates exceptional selectivity by leveraging isotopologue-specific structural dynamics. In this novel mechanism, the framework responds differently depending on whether it hosts hydrogen or deuterium. When exposed to a gas mixture containing less than 5% deuterium (natural abundance), the material successfully concentrated it to 75% in a single separation cycle, proving its practical potential.   Neutron powder diffraction experiments conducted at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) revealed the material’s two distinct adsorption sites: site 1: small pockets surrounded by triazole ligands, and site 2: larger framework channels. At low temperatures, hydrogen fills one site first before migrating to the second, while deuterium simultaneously occupies both. This unexpected behavior arises from differences in how each isotope interacts with the lattice, inducing subtle but measurable framework expansion. “This work shows how fine-tuned host–guest dynamics at the atomic level can be exploited for real-world applications,” said senior author Michael Hirscher of the Max Planck Institute (also affiliated with WPI-AIMR, Tohoku University). “It offers a pathway toward practical isotope separation systems that are both scalable and energy-efficient.”   “Our study demonstrates that even small differences between isotopes can be amplified through responsive material behavior,” added Zhang, who was also lead author of the paper. “This provides a new strategy for isotope separation using materials-based approaches rather than relying solely on large-scale physical processes.”    Beyond its performance, the MOF stands out for its practical viability. It is constructed from commercially available ligands and built upon a modular framework type, which can be readily adapted to different metals. These characteristics, combined with its exceptional selectivity, suggest strong potential for future scaling and industrial integration.   This project was the result of a close international collaboration involving researchers from Japan, Germany, Australia, and the United States. It also exemplifies the importance of interdisciplinary research, combining expertise in materials chemistry, condensed matter physics, neutron scattering, and computational modeling. By combining diverse expertise, the team revealed mechanisms of isotope-selective adsorption that would remain hidden within any single field. Publication Details: Title: Isotopologue-induced structural dynamics of a triazolate metal-organic framework for efficient hydrogen isotope separation Authors: Linda Zhang, Richard Röß-Ohlenroth, Vanessa K. Peterson, Samuel G. Duyker, Cheng Li, Jhonatan Luiz Fiorio, Jan-Ole Joswig, Robert Dinnebier, Dirk Volkmer, Michael Hirscher Journal: Nature Communications DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61107-3 Press Release: Tohoku University https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/researchers_achieve_record_hydrogen_isotope_separation_via_isotopologuedriven_dynamics.html Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University https://www.wpi-aimr.tohoku.ac.jp/en/achievements/press/2025/20250723_002011.html