Various novel properties are being found in one- and two-dimensional nanomaterials, many of which are considered promising for photonic applications. However, there is an issue of the optical interaction cross-section which is generally too small due to their atomic dimension. Recently, a number of ways have been proposed and demonstrated to combine them with appropriate nanophotonic platforms to induce strong light confinement, thereby increasing the interactions, which may enable us to employ these novel properties in photonic integrated circuits. This article reviews results of recent research activities of hybrid nanomaterial-nanophotonic platforms. This technology is promising as future photonic integration, in which we will be able to add various photonic functionalities onto passive Si-based photonic integrated circuits by selectively loading functional nanomaterials.

Information technology is rapidly and broadly utilized in our daily life and changes it more comfortable one. Semiconductor technology plays a fundamental role to support such social infrastructure and will continue to be an essential technology to gain further convenience. In this paper, history and status of semiconductor technology are briefly reviewed, then future hardware platform for AI is discussed.

The structure and function of complex neuronal networks in the brain can be partly reconstituted in vitro by integrating cell culture experiments with microfluidic device technology. Here, we provide an overview of our recent work on the development of microfluidic devices for reconstituting small neuronal networks with the modular structure, a canonical connectivity in the nervous systems of the animals, and functional recordings from the reconstituted neuronal networks. We discuss how these fundamental technologies provide novel tools for exploring structure-function relationships in living neuronal networks and for exploring the physical basis of biological computing in the brain.

Interactive interface between computational data and real biomolecules, like a mixed reality technology, has a potential to contribute to the next generation of nano molecular machines and computing. We had developed a virtual cathode display as the molecular resolution mixed reality interface, which can display electric field phenomena in dynamical nano pattern. A thin membrane window of silicon nitride (SiN) is employed as a display surface for the presentation of electric field. Backside projection of scanning focused electron beam generate the nanoscale electric, chemical, and mechanical phenomenon on the SiN surface. This projection pattern can be instantly refreshed in response to changes in target biomolecules and living cells in aqueous solution.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, importance of measuring devices that perform disease tests easily and quickly from small amounts of blood, urine, and saliva is increasing. ISFET-based biosensors with graphene channel are expected to be highly sensitive biosensing owing to their high electron mobility and large specific surface area. However, charge-detecting FET biosensors face difficulty in measuring macro molecules in high ionic strength solutions close to the physiological environment due to Debye length limitation. In this paper, we introduce a highly sensitive and selective suspended graphene-based biosensor by functionalizing suspended graphene surface with molecular receptor. Signal transducing technique from interaction between adsorbed molecules and suspended graphene into mechanical quantities provides size-independent biosensing.

Transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs) have attracted much attention in recent years due to their diverse nanostructures and physical properties. In particular, the progress of growth techniques has enabled the efficient preparation of high-quality two-dimensional layered TMCs, as well as various one-dimensional TMCs such as nanotubes, nanoribbons, and nanowires. In this article, we focus on one-dimensional wired TMCs, and present an overview of recent progress and our findings on the vapor-phase growth of isolated single TMC wires and large-area networks of nanofibers consisting of TMC wires.

Among the various processing technologies that support modern industrial society, laser processing and electric discharge machining are unique processing techniques for they are non-contacting processes. The initial processes of them occur happen very fast and are accompanied by bright light. Therefore, it is difficult to observe them directly and the details of these processing phenomena are not fully understood yet. In this paper, we introduce the techniques required to build a high-speed imaging system for visualizing these fast-processing phenomena.