Harnessing Sunlight for a Sustainable Future:
Exploring Advanced Photofunctional Materials

Energy and environmental concerns, such as the shortage of fossil fuels and the pressing issue of climate change, are global challenges that need to be addressed urgently. Research and innovation in sustainable energy-related functional materials, developed using environmentally benign technologies, will play a crucial role in addressing these issues. In this context, the advancement of photofunctional materials holds far-reaching implications for the sustainable development of our society by bridging the domains of energy, environment, and materials.

In this background, the course “Advanced Photofunctional Materials” for graduate school students has been established. This course aims to provide fundamental knowledge on photofunctional materials and introduce cutting-edge technologies that harness the power of light, especially sunlight, to address pressing issues, such as environmental degradation and the pursuit of sustainable energy.

As this is the first year of this course, its content will be adjusted annually based on the feedback from students. In addition, the course will incorporate the latest research findings in related fields. We hope that this course will help students interested in energy and materials to gain a deeper understanding of these interrelated fields.