The University of Tokyo's Department of Mechanical Engineering was established in 1879, providing education based on four disciplines; mechanics, materials, hydrodynamics and thermodynamics. 

Within the Department, the Maruyama-Chiashi Laboratory focuses its research on the synthesis and analysis of carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene and other nano-materials. They study applications related to the development of energy related devices, such as solar cells. The laboratory uses scanning Raman spectroscopy as an important tool for the investigation of the synthesized materials and their structure. 

Lecturer Dr Shohei Chiashi says, “The Renishaw inVia is one of the most frequently used instruments in our university. Scanning Raman imaging spectroscopy is very useful for observing the structure of CNTs and graphene. It is one of the most important tools for our research. We find it possible to measure Raman images quickly and stably using inVia. Additionally, we find the software very useful for image analysis.” 

Dr Chiashi, along with Professor Maruyama and colleagues, recently published two papers where the inVia was used as one of the principle characterisation tools. The first1 reports the Raman characterisation of single layer hexagonal graphene flakes produced from ethanol via chemical vapour deposition. The second2 uses systematic Raman mapping to evaluate single-walled carbon nanotubes of different chirality. 

David Reece, Marketing Manager of the spectroscopy group at Renishaw, commented, “inVia is used throughout the world as an essential tool for researchers investigating the unique properties of CNT and graphene. I am glad to see our growing customer base publishing such excellent research utilising our equipment in this exciting area.

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