Shirai Research Group, Nagoya Institute of TechnologyAdvanced Ceramics Research Center / Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Field of Advanced Ceramics

PRESS RELEASE OUTREACHPress Releases & Outreach

Research results from the Shirai Research Group have been featured in newspapers, web media, and international science news sites through university press releases. Videos explaining our research in an accessible way can be viewed on the MEDIA page.
This page lists journal covers, press releases, awards, and media coverage since 2020.

Journal Covers

Journal of the American Chemical Society cover
2026.10.16Journal of the American Chemical SocietyCover (collaborative research)
Green Chemistry cover
2026.06.23Green ChemistryOutside Front Cover
Catalysis Science & Technology cover
2026.06.09Catalysis Science & TechnologyOutside Front Cover
Catalysis Science & Technology cover
2026.05.20Catalysis Science & TechnologyOutside Front Cover
RSC Mechanochemistry cover
2025.09.05RSC MechanochemistryFront Cover
Journal of the Ceramic Society of Japan cover
2025.03.26Journal of the Ceramic Society of JapanFront Cover
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces cover
2024.12.06ACS Applied Materials & InterfacesSupplementary Cover Art
Nanoscale Advances cover
2024.06.19Nanoscale AdvancesFront Cover
Journal of Materials Chemistry C cover
2022.09.27Journal of Materials Chemistry CFront Cover
Green Chemistry cover
2022.05.24Green ChemistryBack Cover, Cover Profile
Catalysis Science & Technology cover
2020.08.24Catalysis Science & TechnologyInside Back Cover, Cover Profile

Press Releases and Media Coverage

2026.05.07

Innovative CFRP recycling technology enabled by a new solid catalyst — Recovering high-quality carbon fibers at low temperature in a short time, contributing to sustainable resource circulation and the creation of high-performance materials —

We developed a solid catalyst that decomposes the resin of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) at low temperature in a short time, allowing carbon fibers to be recovered without damage.

Main Media Coverage
2024.12.16

Development of a technology for producing construction materials with the world's highest strength for lunar infrastructure — A step forward toward building infrastructure for crewed lunar exploration and long-term stays —

We developed a technology that heats and sinters a simulant of lunar sand (“regolith”) with microwaves to produce high-strength building materials for roads and landing pads on the Moon.

Main Media Coverage
  • 2025.01.15BIGLOBE News
  • 2025.01.15Tsukuba Science News
2024.10.15

Room-Temperature, Rapid Synthesis Technique for Molybdenum Oxide/Carbon Catalysts Developed: Expected as a Next-Generation Catalyst to Accelerate the Realization of a Society Free from Water Shortages

We developed a method to synthesize, at room temperature and in a short time, a composite catalyst that decomposes pollutants in water under sunlight and also adsorbs and removes heavy-metal ions. The work was also disseminated internationally as an English-language Research News article.

Main Media Coverage
  • 2024.10.16engineer
  • 2024.10.17johocloud
  • 2024.10.28BIGLOBE News
  • 2024.12.17MONOist
  • 2025.03.24NITech RESEARCH NEWS (English)
  • 2025.03.24–28PR Newswire, Hydrocarbon Processing, Chemical Today, Smart Water Magazine, Water Online, and other international media
▶ Watch the research introduction video
2023.07.05

World's first discovery of structural changes in green tea catechins catalyzed by the surface of ceramic glazes — Green tea turning into black tea or oolong tea in a teacup? New developments in traditional Japanese ceramic technology and tea culture —

We scientifically tested the traditional saying that “tea tastes different depending on the teaware,” and revealed that metals contained in glazes promote the oxidation of catechins.

Main Media Coverage
  • 2023.07.08Chunichi Shimbun
  • 2023.07.15Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun
  • 2023.08.06TECH+, BIGLOBE News
  • 2023.08.10University Journal ONLINE
  • 2023.09.11EurekAlert!, ScienceDaily
  • 2023.09.19Yahoo! News, goo News
  • 2023.10.10Jiji Press
  • 2024.01.01Togyo Jiho
▶ Watch the research introduction video
2022.05.24

Synthesis of carbon nano-onions with the world’s highest luminescence efficiency by microwave pyrolysis of fish scales: new developments toward functional nanomaterials and next-generation light sources contributing to the SDGs

We succeeded in producing brightly luminescent nanocarbon materials simply by heating discarded fish scales with microwaves for a few seconds.

Main Media Coverage
  • 2022.05.25Optronics Online
  • 2022.08.01EurekAlert!, ScienceDaily, Phys.org
  • 2022.10.03SciShow(YouTube)“Carbon Nano-Onions are About to be a Big Deal”
  • 2023.01Mitsui & Co. Global Strategic Studies Institute, “Technologies to Watch in 2023”
▶ Watch the research introduction video
2021.04.14

Contributing to the SDGs with a “rare-metal-free” catalyst made of the same component as bone: a new surface activation technology that dramatically improves the decomposition of VOC gases responsible for photochemical oxidants (in Japanese)

We showed that simply treating hydroxyapatite—the main component of bones and teeth—mechanically can greatly enhance its ability to decompose VOCs, a class of air pollutants.

Main Media Coverage
  • 2021.04.14NIES Kankyo Tenbodai (Environmental Information Platform)
  • 2021.05.11EurekAlert!, ScienceDaily, Phys.org, SCIENMAG, and others
2020.08.21

Complete decomposition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) achieved using hydroxyapatite (HAp), known as the main component of teeth and bones — New possibilities for environmental purification technology with a ceramic catalyst requiring no precious metal addition —

We discovered that hydroxyapatite alone can completely decompose VOCs without using expensive precious metals.

Main Media Coverage
  • 2020.08.22Chunichi Shimbun
  • 2020.09.17Electronic Device Industry News

Awards

Awards received by faculty and students of Shirai Research Group since 2020.

DateAward winnersAward / Society
2026.06Takashi ShiraiExcellence Award
Nagoya Institute of Technology (2025 Faculty Performance Evaluation)
Article ›
2026.01Takumi WatanabeBest Oral Award
24th International Symposium on Eco-materials Processing and Design (ISEPD2026)
Article ›
2025.09Ryoga FujikawaExcellent Presentation Award in a Special Session
The Ceramic Society of Japan, 38th Fall Meeting
2025.06Takashi ShiraiOutstanding Faculty Award
Nagoya Institute of Technology (2024 Faculty Performance Evaluation)
2025.05Kota MorikawaExcellent Presentation Award
Japan Society of Powder and Powder Metallurgy (JSPM) 2025 Spring Meeting
Article ›
2024.11Kunihiko KatoAPPIE Encouragement Award, Excellent Research Award
POWTEX2024, 25th International Powder Technology Exhibition Tokyo
Article ›
2024.11Yunzi XinAPPIE Encouragement Award (Research Encouragement Award)
POWTEX2024, 25th International Powder Technology Exhibition Tokyo
Article ›
2024.09Takumi SanguExcellent Presentation Award
The Ceramic Society of Japan, 37th Fall Meeting
2024.09Haruto KamiyaMFD Grand Prize
The Ceramic Society of Japan, 37th Fall Meeting
2024.06Naoya TakemotoExcellent Presentation Award
Tokai Branch, The Ceramic Society of Japan, 66th Tokai Young Ceramists' Meeting, 2024 Summer Seminar
Article ›
2024.03Takashi ShiraiFY2023 Academic Award
Nagai Foundation for Science & Technology
2023.09Takumi SanguBest Presentation Award (Characterization Category)
36th Fall Meeting of The Ceramic Society of Japan
2023.09Kunihiko KatoPresentation Encouragement Award
The 54th Meeting of The Japan Society of Applied Physics
2023.06Ni Kadek Sagit Ari WarsaniExcellent Presentation Award
64th Tokai Young Ceramists' Meeting 2023 Summer Seminar, Tokai Branch, The Ceramic Society of Japan
2023.06Yoshiaki FunahashiExcellent Presentation Award
Japan Society of Powder and Powder Metallurgy (JSPM), FY2023 Spring Meeting
2023.05Kunihiko KatoBest Presentation Award
The Society of Powder Technology, Japan, 2023 Spring Meeting
2023.04XU YupingHayato Award
Tokai Branch Award, The Ceramic Society of Japan
2023.03Takashi ShiraiExcellence Award
Nagoya Institute of Technology FY2022 Staff Commendation (development of ceramic materials through local reaction-field control)
Article ›
2022.09Yoshiaki FunahashiBest Material Design Presentation Award
The 35th Fall Meeting of The Ceramic Society of Japan
2022.09XU YupingBest Processing Design Presentation Award
The 35th Fall Meeting of The Ceramic Society of Japan
2022.09Takumi SanguFighting Spirit Award
The 35th Fall Meeting of The Ceramic Society of Japan
2022.03XU Yuping, NGUYEN Huu HienPoster Presentation Encouragement Award
14th Material Fabrication Design (MFD) Workshop, The Ceramic Society of Japan
2022.01Yunzi XinBest Oral Presentation Award (The American Ceramic Society)
60th Symposium on Basic Science of Ceramics
Article ›
2021.09Kai OdachiBest Presentation Award Bronze
The Ceramic Society of Japan, 34th Fall Meeting
2021.09Yoshiaki Funahashi, Ryosuke MatsuiPresentation Incentive Award
The Ceramic Society of Japan, 34th Fall Meeting
2021.09Sota Tomiyama, Ryohei SuzukiFighting-spirit Award
The Ceramic Society of Japan, 34th Fall Meeting
2021.03Sota TomiyamaExcellent Characterization Award
The Ceramic Society of Japan, 12th Material Fabrication Design (MFD) Workshop
2020.11Kunihiko KatoBest Presentation Award
2020 Annual Meeting of the Tokai Branch, The Ceramic Society of Japan
2020.09Taku NagataBest Presentation Award Bronze
The Ceramic Society of Japan, 33rd Fall Meeting
2020.09Takafumi Sudo, Yoshiaki FunahashiPresentation Incentive Award
The Ceramic Society of Japan, 33rd Fall Meeting
2020.09Yuya Takeuchi, Ryosuke MatsuiPresentation Fighting-spirit Award
The Ceramic Society of Japan, 33rd Fall Meeting
2020.04Kunihiko Kato1st Hayato Award
Tokai Branch Award, The Ceramic Society of Japan
2020.03Kunihiko KatoProcessing Design Encouragement Award
2nd Material Fabrication Design Seminar
2020.03Takashi ShiraiResearch Encouragement Award
Nagai Foundation for Science & Technology
2020.02Kunihiko KatoPresident's Award (Academic Activities)
Nagoya Institute of Technology Fund Student Research Grant

Other Media Coverage

For the full list of media coverage, see “Media Coverage” under PAPER PRESENTATION.

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