Development of an Innovative Method for In-Vivo Electric Power Generation by Making Excellent Use of Nanocarbon Plasma Processing

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K04711
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Plasma electronics
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Hatakeyama Rikizo 東北大学, 工学研究科, 名誉教授 (00108474)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 京相 雅樹 東京都市大学, 工学部, 准教授 (20277825) ; 平田 孝道 東京都市大学, 工学部, 教授 (80260420)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: プラズマ応用 / 生体内発電 / ナノバイオ・医療 / ナノ材料 / ナノカーボン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Structure-controlled single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) grown and functionalized by plasma production and control techniques have been clarified to efficiently yield photoelectric conversion in the infrared region. According to measured electric-power-generation characteristics of the new-concept solar cells implanted in the rat abdomen, it is demonstrated for the first time that the power generation efficiency reaches a maximum around light wavelength 1100 nm in the near-infrared region, which is better suited for optical response within a living organism. In experiments of irradiating atmospheric-pressure plasmas to the cutaneous surface, healing of the region of wound from implantation is found to be accelerated and a mechanism of optical-penetration enhancement is figured out in terms of regularization of dermal tissues. The achievement outlined above offers an avenue for developing a novel method of electric power generation within a living organism using nanocarbons.

Free Research Field

プラズマ応用