In this study, we focused on the low-temperature preparation of the typical Garnet-type cubic solid electrolyte powders of lithium lanthanum zirconate (LLZO) with new dopants. We chose the new dopants of Mg and Sr to stabilize the cubic phase by different preparation methods. One is the solid state reaction with a wet chemical coating of Li source, and the other is the all wet chemical processing of so called modified sol-gel method. As a result, we successfully prepared cubic LLZO powders with Mg and Sr dopants by the modified sol-gel method at lower temperature. In addition, new dopants affected the stability of the cubic phase if compared with the other dopants such as Al and Ta. The modified sol-gel method was the powerful tool to stabilize the cubic phase because of the high homogeneity of a precursor at the molecular level by the suitable molecular-design of the precursor solution.

The effect of the binder dispersion and mixing state on the strength of compression molded tablet was experimentally investigated. In order to clarify the effect, the sample powders were prepared by a model mixing operation in which the ratio of binder-mixed and unmixed samples was controlled with keeping the ratio of the binder mass to powder mass. The mixing state was quantitatively evaluated by Morishita’s dispersion index, which was proposed for representing the aggregation state of a group of individuals in ecology field. The strength of compression molded tablet prepared by the model mixing operation was correlated with Morishita’s dispersion index. In addition, the strength of compression molded tablet prepared by mechanical mixing was also expressed by the same correlation line obtained by the model mixing experiments. Therefore, it is considered that the mixing state of the polymer binder, which affects the strength of the compacts, can be evaluated by Morishita’s dispersion index.

Sodium chloride powder is known to undergo caking in high-humidity environments, but its mechanism and conditions have yet to be clarified. In this study, we examined the effects of the moisture absorption rate of sodium chloride under plural high-humidity environment on the caking phenomena. Thus, we prepared several experimental equations for calculating moisture flow in sodium chloride powder. Caking was found to occur with estimated sodium chloride moisture absorption rates up to approximately 0.8 mg·h⁻¹, and the caking strength increased gradually with a duration of moisture absorption by sodium chloride. In addition, the measurement results for the amount of moisture in the powder were very close to the results calculated using the experimental equations. When the sodium chloride moisture absorption rate was low, the amount of moisture in the powder took a long time to reach a steady state. We thought that this result is natural because the speed of moisture flow due to diffusion in sodium chloride powder was very low under these conditions.

Living system is a chemical system, as the chemical or electric power plant are. However, both systems look quite different. Here, the remarked differences are broken down into four types of characteristics, i.e., spontaneous growth of inhomogeneity, size-growth accomplished by synchronization of coupled motions, positive role of external noise and active transport (self-excitation). Simple artificial systems that exhibit these characteristics are introduced with studies by author’s group. The chemical systems are able to behave like a living matter when these characteristics are implemented. Only the open systems acting under strongly nonequilibrium conditions make the implementation possible. Interface between the system and its surroundings is only the place that satisfies this condition. Therefore, such a system should be small in scale and have a large specific area.

Control of particle microstructure and its assembly structure is a key issue for achieving high quality advanced materials and give them high functions. In this paper, manufacturing process of advanced ceramics using raw powder materials is introduced to make clear the role of powder structure control for high quality materials. Besides, individual particle structure control is also important to develop functional particles and advanced materials by controlling particle assembly structure. In this paper, processing technology of composite particles is also discussed to explain the roles for developing advanced materials.

Dry particulate coating process has been proposed as a cost-effective unit operation for preparing particles with controlled drug release. In this process, nanoscale solid-state coating particles are mechanically coated onto the surface of the drug-containing core particles (c.a. 100 μm). Although this process has been reported in many previous studies, several outstanding issues need addressing before it can replace the current standard method: the wet particulate coating technique employing a fluidized bed. In the realm of material design, traditional coating agents for the wet process have not considered solid-state adhesion. Moreover, the operational and material factors influencing coverage remain undefined. This review summarizes previously studied materials and apparatus, and details our research into the development of acrylic coating agents and the understanding of the coating mechanism.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are potential materials for gas adsorption/separation, catalysis, and sensing due to their remarkable porous characteristics. To enable their widespread utilizations, the challenge of continuous MOF synthesis for scaled production is addressed. The study focuses on recent advancements in the continuous synthesis and morphology control of MOF crystals through spray synthesis involving the creation of MOF crystals within sprayed droplets of precursor solutions during solvent evaporation. Through varying conditions and two apparatuses, continuous synthesis of HKUST-1 MOF is achieved with good production efficiency. Additionally, the spray-synthesis method demonstrates to synthesize nanocomposites of HKUST-1 with other functional nanomaterials as well as to fabricate thin films of HKUST-1 and self-standing nanocomposite films incorporating carbon nanotubes.