We prepared binder-free monoliths of carbon nanohorns（CNHs）, hole-opened carbon nanohorns （CNHoxs）, multi-walled carbon nanotube（MWCNT）, and single-walled carbon nanotube（SWCNT）using spark plasma sintering（SPS）method at 1800℃ and 80 MPa in vacuum. The density of the SPS-treated SWCNT is 1.8 g/cm³, which is close to that of graphite, while those of CNHs, CNHoxs, and MWCNT remained 1.1-1.3 g/cm³ even after SPS treatment. We evaluated the monoliths using Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy observation, which showed a significant defect formation and graphitization of SWCNTs. Moreover, the increase of defects density in CNHs, CNHoxs, and MWCNT was moderate, and sub-micron size structures remained. We observed that the monoliths of CNHs and CNHoxs were highly conductive with a Hall mobility of positive holes of ～50 cm²/Vs and electrical conductivity of ～300 S/cm. These experimental results indicated that the SPS treatment under appropriate conditions could provide a CNHs monolith with nanostructure and good electrical conductivity.

Technology controlling of material surface wettability is important for imparting functionality to the material, and is thought to lead to the development of useful devices in the medical and environmental fields. Devices using Poly（lactic acid）（PLA）are sustainable, because PLA is derived from renewable resources like corn starch. Therefore, by examining the conditions processing the super water-repellent surface of PLA, the development of devices with low environmental impact can be expected. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between the PLA microstructure and the processing conditions necessary to produce its super water-repellent surface. Therefore, the relationship between the processing conditions and the contact angle of water droplets on the processed PLA surface was evaluated. As a result, it was found that the conditions for fabricating the super water-repellent surface due to the pinning effect were clarified.

High saturation magnetization is required for BiFeO₃-based multiferroic（ferromagnetic/ferroelectric）thin films to apply magnetic writing element of Racetrack Memory which is a nextgeneration magnetic recording device. A newly introduced laser-assisted heating system was used to form high quality（Bi, A）FeO₃（A=Ca, Sr, Ba（alkaline earth metal））thin films. The maximum substrate temperature was increased from 695 to about 858℃ by using this laserassisted heating system combining with lamp heating system of sputtering equipment. In the case of（Bi, Ca）FeO₃ and（Bi, Sr）FeO₃ with the Ca or Sr substitution concentration of 50～ 60 at％ fabricated by using the laser-assisted heating system, the crystallinity was improved, but oxygen vacancy could not be suppressed. As the result, saturation magnetization was not large. In the case of（Bi, Ba）FeO₃ with the Ba substitution concentration of 50～60 at％ fabricated by using the laser-assisted heating system, oxygen vacancy could be suppressed. As the result, highest saturation magnetization of around 100 emu/cm³ was obtained in（Bi, Ba）FeO₃ thin films.

The superparamagnetic thin films with a granular structure show a characteristic magnetization curve. In this study, Co-Al₂O₃ granular thin films were fabricated by the sputtering method with normal DC source for Co deposition, RF source for Al₂O₃ deposition, and pulsed DC reactive sputtering were used for fabrication of non-magnetic matrix of oxide or nitride of Al or Si. As a result, Co-Al₂O₃ superparamagnetic thin films with high magnetization could be obtained with high deposition rate. Very high deposition rate was obtained for fabrication of oxide or nitride films of Al or Si using the pulsed DC reactive sputtering method. This deposition rate was 5 times larger than RF sputtering method. It is expected that a sputtering method with DC source for Co deposition and pulsed DC source for matrix deposition will be effective to realize very high magnetization in the superparamagnetic granular thin films.