A Kickoff Symposium For The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Project Was Held In Taiwan

Five universities in Japan and Taiwan are collaborating to promote the development of next-generation circularly polarized light emission technology.

Professor Yoshitane Imai of the Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kindai University, and Associate Professor Ming-Chia Li of National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan serve as the principal investigators for a Japan-Taiwan research group centered around five universities, including Ibaraki University, Osaka Metropolitan University, and National Central University in Taiwan. This group has been selected for the "2026 Joint Research Grant Program (Natural Sciences and Applied Sciences)" of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association. In this project, researchers from Japan and Taiwan will collaborate to develop fundamental technologies for circularly polarized organic light-emitting diodes (CP-OLEDs), a next-generation semiconductor optical device that emits circularly polarized light.

To mark the start of the project, a kick-off symposium, "2026 Taiwan–Japan Joint Symposium on Next-Generation Circularly Polarized Luminescence Technology," will be held on September 1st (Tue) and 2nd (Wed), 2026, at National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University and National Central University in Taiwan. Researchers and students from Kindai University, Ibaraki University, and Osaka Metropolitan University will visit Taiwan to present their research, participate in a young researcher session, tour laboratories, and exchange opinions on collaborative research over the next three years.

• A Japan-Taiwan research group centered around Kinki University, Ibaraki University, Osaka Metropolitan University, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, and National Central University has been selected for the "Joint Research Grant Program" of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association.
• We aim to develop fundamental technologies for next-generation circularly polarized organic light-emitting diodes by creating circularly polarized light using magnetic fields, electric fields, electron spin, and hierarchical structures.
• A kickoff symposium was held at National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University and National Central University in Taiwan, fostering exchange among Japanese and Taiwanese researchers and students through research.

Circularly polarized light (CPL) is light in which the electric field of light rotates clockwise or counterclockwise relative to the direction of propagation. Because it allows the use of new information such as "direction of rotation" in addition to the intensity and color of light, it is expected to have applications in a wide range of fields, including next-generation displays, optical communications, information security, 3D displays, and biosensing. In particular, circularly polarized organic light-emitting diodes (CP-OLEDs), which directly generate circularly polarized light from electrical energy, are attracting attention as next-generation high-performance light-emitting devices. On the other hand, challenges remain to be overcome before practical application, such as achieving both high luminous efficiency and degree of circular polarization, expanding the range of available light-emitting materials, and improving the freedom of device design.

A joint Japan-Taiwan research team, led by Professor Yoshitane Imai of Kindai University, Professor Hiroyuki Nishikawa of Ibaraki University, Professor Shigeyuki Yagi of Osaka Metropolitan University, Associate Professor Ming-Chia Li of National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, and Assistant Professor Hsiao-Fang Wang of National Central University, will promote the "Development of Fundamental Technologies for Next-Generation Semiconductor Optical Devices Created with Circular Polarization" with the support of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association's Joint Research Grant Program. Through research activities, academic discussions, and exchanges among young researchers, this project aims to advance circular polarization emission technology, as well as to form a research network and strengthen cooperative relations between Japan and Taiwan.

This project will combine the circular polarization spectroscopy measurement, emission evaluation under magnetic fields, and organic EL device fabrication and evaluation technologies possessed by a Japanese research group with the technologies of a Taiwanese research group concerning circular polarization luminescent materials, polymer and semiconductor materials, self-assembly, and material structure analysis. Through this, the project aims to establish highly efficient and high-performance circular polarization luminescent materials and new device principles that correspond to a wide wavelength range from visible light to near-infrared light by inducing asymmetry in the electronic state and electron spin of luminescent materials through external stimuli such as magnetic and electric fields. In particular, the project will focus on "magnetic field-induced circular polarization (MCPL)," which induces circular polarization emission using a magnetic field; "electric field-induced circular polarization (ECPL)," which controls circular polarization emission using an electric field; and the "chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect," which selects the spin of electrons passing through chiral molecular structures. By combining these principles, the project will strive to create new CP-OLEDs that do not rely solely on conventional chiral luminescent molecules.

Joint Research Project Overview

• Research Project Title: Development of Fundamental Technologies for Next-Generation Semiconductor Light-Emitting Devices Based on Circularly Polarized Luminescence
• Grant-funded project: Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, 2026 Joint Research Grant Program (Natural Sciences and Applied Sciences)
• Research period: FY2026 (Reiwa 8) to FY2028 (Reiwa 10)
• Research Objective: Development of an organic EL device that directly generates circularly polarized light using a novel principle that does not rely on conventional chiral light-emitting molecules, by utilizing magnetic fields, electric fields, and electron spin.
• Expected Outcomes: This project will establish design guidelines for new light-emitting materials and devices that achieve both high circular polarization and high luminescence efficiency. Furthermore, it will pioneer new optical semiconductor science based on the interaction of magnetic fields, electric fields, light, and electron spins, aiming for applications in next-generation displays, optical and quantum communications, information security, sensing, and spintronics. In addition, young researchers and graduate students from both Japan and Taiwan will continuously visit each other, conduct joint research presentations and experiments, and cultivate the next generation of talent to lead international collaborative research.
• Research Team: Yoshitane Imai, Professor, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kindai University (Research Director, Japan Representative) / Hiroyuki Nishikawa, Professor, Chemistry Course, Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University / Shigeyuki Yagi, Professor, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Osaka Metropolitan University Ming-Chia Li, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University (Taiwan Representative) / Hsiao-Fang Wang, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, National Central University