Current status of R&D in frontier carbon technology (FCT) project - overview

M. Yoshikawa

FCT Project/ Japan Fine Ceramics Center

Puros-Nishi-Shinbashi, 3F, 2-4-3 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003, Japan

Abstract

This paper will address an overview of current R&D activities in Frontier Carbon Technology (FCT) Project operated by Japan Fine Ceramics Center (JFCC) under the auspices of New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The FCT Project started in 1998 as a 5-year project.

A new class of carbon materials (Frontier Carbons) represented by diamond, DLC, carbon nanotube, fullerene have new and unique characteristics for mechanical, electronic, and chemical applications that have not been known for conventional carbon materials. It is thus expected that Frontier Carbons will be a new basic material after metals and ceramics for the industry in the 21^st century.

The purpose of the FCT Project is to develop basic technologies, common to different industrial sectors, of the new carbon materials. The Project consists of two categories: (1) New materials synthesis and (2) Materials processing, and the latter is further divided into (a) Electrically functional materials processing and (b) Mechanically functional materials processing.

The Project has two research centers: one in Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) at Tsukuba and the other in Osaka University. The member organizations include 15 private companies, two research organizations as well as 5 national research laboratories, 6 universities, and three overseas research groups.

Followings are the research subjects in the three groups:

(1) New Materials Synthesis

- Synthesis of new materials by EB-excited CVD

- Synthesis of new materials by multiple ion beams

- Large-scale production of carbon nanotube

- Design of reactions and materials

(2) Electrically Functional Materials Processing

- Control of film morphology using 60 kW microwave plasma CVD reactor

- Field emission from diamond powders

- Fabrication of sharp emitter tips

(3) Mechanically Functional Materials Processing

- Deposition of graded-composition films

- Coating on complex-shape substrates

- Large-area coatings

It is expected that this presentation will encourage other countries to start new and large projects on Frontier Carbons and further stimulate international collaborations.

This work was supported by FCT Project, which was consigned to JFCC by NEDO.

Keywords: FCT Project, applications, diamond, carbon nanotube

Koji Kobashi

FCT/JFCC

Center for Advanced Research Projects (6F), Osaka University

2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan

k-kobashi@rd.kcrl.kobelco.co.jp

Fax: +81-6-6879-4147, Phone: +81-6-6879-4146