News 

2026

Aug 18-19: Our ASPIRE Hydrogen Workshop was successfully held at Tohoku University (group photo). We look forward to seeing you again at next year’s workshop! 

Aug 07: The workshop program has been updated.

July 02: The 1st collaboration paper in ASPIRE project has been published in Nature Energy.

May 29: Schedule for the workshop has been updated.  

May 27: The list of invited speakers for the workshop has been updated. 

April 14: The project website has been launched. 

Project Overview 

This project aims to develop next-generation catalytic materials by establishing a sustainable and robust international research ecosystem within the hydrogen energy sector.

The Japanese team will be responsible for fundamental research focused on elucidating surface phenomena using single-crystal models and nanostructured catalysts related to fuel cells and water electrolysis technologies. Meanwhile, the partner country will lead applied research involving the theoretical elucidation of reaction mechanisms based on first-principles calculations, operando spectroscopic analysis, the novel design of nanostructured catalysts, and implementation into practical devices.

The international research team will maintain close collaboration to facilitate "brain circulation" through the mutual exchange of next-generation early-career researchers, primarily graduate students. Furthermore, the team will promote the exchange and deepening of knowledge and technology through the regular holding of international workshops. Through these initiatives, we aim to establish a sustainable international R&D foundation for innovative catalytic materials that will support the widespread adoption of hydrogen energy devices.

Project Team

Japan-side

PI: Naoto Todoroki, Tohoku University

Co-Pi: Kazuyuki Iwase, Tohoku University

Partner-side

Fabio Dionigi, Technische Universität Berlin

Peter Strasser, Technische Universität Berlin

Taeghwan Hyeon, Seoul National University

Jian Xie, Purdue University

Zhenhua Zeng, Purdue University