CATALYSIS · REACTION ENGINEERING · CARBON CIRCULATION

Watanabe
Laboratory

Watanabe Laboratory · Hamamatsu

Transforming molecules, energy, and carbon through catalytic reaction engineering.

Explore researchAbout the lab
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01 / VISION

REACTION ENGINEERING FOR A CARBON-CIRCULATING SOCIETY

Turning reactions into
technologies for real-world use.

We connect catalysis, reaction engineering and electrified reactions to develop new processes for CO₂, methane, hydrogen, carbon resources and sulfur compounds.

02 / RESEARCH

Research in motion.

Four research themes spanning materials, structures, reactors and energy supply.

01CARBON
CIRCULATIONCO₂ → SYNGAS · SOLID CARBON
01

CARBON CIRCULATION

Turning CO₂ into resources.

We combine CO₂ conversion, syngas production and solid-carbon fixation in reaction systems for carbon circulation.

Research details ↗
02STRUCTURED
CATALYSTSSPIRAL · POROUS METAL · FLOW
02

STRUCTURED CATALYSTS

Making catalyst geometry work.

We use spiral structures, porous metals and washcoats to build catalytic reactors that account for heat and mass transfer.

Research details ↗
03e-REACTION
PROCESSELECTRICITY → CHEMICAL TRANSFORMATION
03

e-REACTION PROCESS

Changing chemical processes through heat delivery.

We introduce electrical energy directly into reactors and catalysts, exploiting rapid response, local heating and compact equipment.

Research details ↗
04LATTICE SULFUR
CATALYSISLATTICE S ⇄ VACANCY ⇄ REGENERATION
04

LATTICE SULFUR CATALYSIS

Using lattice sulfur
as a reactive species.

We study redox catalytic processes in which sulfur is released from sulfide lattices and reinserted from H₂S, repeatedly using lattice sulfur through sulfur vacancies.

Research details ↗
03 / PEOPLE

PEOPLE

Different expertise.
One laboratory.

Our team connects materials, structures, fluid flow and electrified reactions through catalysis and reaction engineering.

Meet the team
04 / NEWS

Latest

All news ↗
JSPS FELLOWSHIP

Prithvi selected for a JSPS Research Fellowship (DC2)!

Prithvi, a student in our laboratory, has been selected for a Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (DC2) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). Congratulations, Prithvi! We look forward to seeing his research progress.

Read the announcement ↗
Prithvi, selected for a JSPS Research Fellowship (DC2)
Congratulations, Prithvi!
PAPER ACCEPTED

Paper on auto-methanation performance and exergy assessment accepted for publication

Auto-methanation Performance and Its Exergy Based Assessment in an Adiabatic Multi-Stage Spiral-Structured Catalyst Reactor System

Just accepted

Authors
Hiroshi Akama, Ryo Watanabe

This study evaluates auto-methanation performance and exergy efficiency without external heating in an adiabatic multi-stage spiral-structured catalyst reactor, toward on-site conversion of oxygen-containing industrial exhaust gas to methane.

Read the acceptance announcement
Research concept: methanation and exergy assessment
Research concept: methanation and exergy assessment
CONFERENCE

Six students presented at the SCEJ 57th Autumn Meeting

Six students from our laboratory presented their research at the SCEJ 57th Autumn Meeting, held on September 14–16, 2026, at the Higashi-Hiroshima Campus of Hiroshima University.

View the presentation program (SY-63) ↗ Read the conference report ↗
Group photo of laboratory members in front of the SCEJ 57th Autumn Meeting sign at Hiroshima University
At the SCEJ 57th Autumn Meeting venue, Hiroshima University
PAPER ACCEPTED

Paper on methane dry reforming and solid carbon fixation accepted for publication

Dry Reforming of Methane with an Integrated Carbon-Capture Stage: Equilibrium Shifting and Solid Carbon Fixation

Journal of the Japan Petroleum Institute (2026)

Authors
Ryo Watanabe, Haruki Saito, Yu Nakazawa, Hiroshi Akama, Takehiko Moteki, Choji Fukuhara

The study examines equilibrium shifting and solid carbon fixation in methane dry reforming with an integrated carbon-capture stage.

Read the acceptance announcement
Schematic of a reaction system that feeds methane and carbon dioxide through dry reforming, carbon formation and a second dry-reforming stage to produce syngas and solid carbon
Research concept: dry reforming → carbon formation → dry reforming
AWARD

Hiroyuki Akino (B4) wins an Outstanding Poster Presentation Award at the 5th SU-CNU Joint Symposium

On September 11, 2026, Hiroyuki Akino, a fourth-year undergraduate student in our laboratory, received an Outstanding Poster Presentation Award at the 5th SU-CNU Joint Symposium. The award recognizes his poster presentation and research achievements.

View the certificate (PDF) ↗Read the News article ↗
Hiroyuki Akino's Outstanding Poster Presentation Award certificate, September 11, 2026
5th SU-CNU Joint Symposium
Outstanding Poster Presentation Award
PLAYGROUNDCatalyst Atlas — USA & Europe, a map of catalysis researchers in the United States and Europe, has been added as Project 06. Featured researchers and their regions and research sites are highlighted, with updates on the first day of every month.↗PLAYGROUNDCareer Compass is now publicly available for students exploring careers. For reference only; it does not recommend specific employers or occupations.↗PLAYGROUNDResearch Tree explores research connections within the university. For reference only. Shizuoka University faculty interested in access should contact Ryo Watanabe.↗PLAYGROUNDMethanation Lab, a CO₂ methanation temperature-distribution simulator, is now available with restricted access. Contact us for a password.↗PLAYGROUNDChemTree and Catalyst Atlas are now available for exploring literature and finding catalysis researchers across Japan.↗LABWatanabe Laboratory website launched.↗PAPERLow-Temperature RWGS Process with a Two-Stage Cu-Fe/Zn Spiral-structured Catalyst.↗AWARDStudent awards for carbon looping and carbon formation.↗
05 / PUBLICATIONS

PUBLICATIONS

Ideas made visible.

Recent publications on CO₂ conversion, structured catalysts and solid-carbon fixation.

All publications

CONTACT

Work with us.

Contact us about collaboration, laboratory visits and graduate study.

Contact