Antonio Atienza-Marquez, IAS Invited Assistant Professor
Researcher’s Profile
・Antonio Atienza-Marquez, IAS Invited Assistant Professor at Green Hydrogen Research Laboratory, ACERC
・Research Interest : Hydrogen technology, renewable energy, polygeneration
After obtaining his Ph.D. at Spain’s Universidad Rovira Virgili, Antonio Atienza-Marquez spent one year doing post-doctoral research at the University of Málaga. He joined the Green Hydrogen Research Laboratory, Advanced Chemical Energy Research Center, IAS at YNU in July 2022 as an assistant professor.
Atienza-Marquez is an experienced researcher who worked under contract at Universidad Rovira Virgili and the University of Málaga beginning from his master’s course days. Like many of his fellow students, he envisaged working for a company after graduation but in the course of obtaining his master’s degree he encountered a research topic that sparked his interest. He found research attractive, and motivated by the desire to make new discoveries, decided to go on to obtain his doctorate. He finds the life of the researcher very appealing and satisfying, since it is full of challenges and gives the satisfaction of learning something new every day.
Atienza-Marquez spent many years researching how to improve the energy efficiency of buildings through renewable energy and polygeneration. But after obtaining his doctorate, recognizing that developing cleaner energy is an urgent issue for humankind, at YNU he shifted the focus of his research to hydrogen technology. Compared to natural gas, one of the main energy sources today, he believes that hydrogen is a very promising source of clean energy that can contribute to the development of human society. Aware that hydrogen research is advanced in Japan, he chose the lab at YNU, where he is studying how to advance hydrogen storage and transportation technologies.
Atienza-Marquez believes that research for developing new technologies and improving energy system efficiency are key to creating a safe renewable energy society. Through his research, he aspires to contribute to promoting energy conversion for realizing a sustainable society.
Please describe your current reseach
My current research focuses on liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) technology, which allows hydrogen to be transported absorbed in an organic liquid at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. I am particularly interested in toluene electro-hydrogenation electrolyzer technology. These electrochemical devices are a type of proton exchange membrane electrolyzer that produce methylcyclohexane, a liquid that can be transported over long distances using existing petroleum-based infrastructure. Once at the point of consumption, hydrogen is released from methylcyclohexane by applying heat.
What do you think about the research environment and the atmosphere at IMS?
YNU offered me the opportunity to join a team of renowned hydrogen experts, such as professors Shigenenori MITSUSHIMA and Takuto ARAKI. Partnering with leading domestic energy companies, they have been developing innovative technologies for the bulk and long-distance transport of hydrogen at ambient temperature and pressure. Being exposed to the latest specialized knowledge gives me the chance to build on my previous knowledge and background, which will be invaluable for my scientific career. Additionally, I have access to unique resources and advanced facilities that are unavailable elsewhere in the world.
I think of my lab colleagues as my team, meetings are enjoyable, and every day at the lab is very pleasant. Since my desk is in the lab’s main room, colleagues often drop in. When someone opens the door, I sometimes start singing, which makes everybody laugh. They go along with my jokes. Between our busy times at the lab, I like to joke with everyone or sing, and it’s a very nice atmosphere. The IAS research environment is very supportive, providing all the resources I need to conduct my research and to resolve any paperwork or bureaucratic issues. I am grateful to all the IAS staff for their continuous support and assistance with any questions or concerns I may have.
What are you particularly looking forward to doing during your remaining time in Japan?
During my remaining time in Japan, I hope to lay the groundwork for ongoing collaboration with IAS. I will soon be attending a meeting at the Spanish embassy in Tokyo to explore how to build and strengthen relationships and advance joint projects between universities in Japan and Spain. During my last month in Japan, I will be collecting information on how to build relationships between Japanese and Spanish universities and what to look out for. I want to get ideas on how I can build connections with YNU for the future, when I will be a professor at Universidad de Málaga.
I also want to keep up my connections with people I got to know in Japan. Before coming to Japan, I had reached out to members of YNU’s swim team on social media. I joined the team after I arrived and I’ve enjoyed swimming practice with them three or four times a week. When you are a researcher, you have deadlines for papers, or your experiments are not going well, so there’s a lot of uncertainty. Swimming is a good way of getting away from work and relaxing. To me, swimming has the same effect as going to an onsen hot spring, so I intend to maintain my connections with swimming team members. My neighbors at the apartment where I live are from many different countries. During the rest of my time here, I want to enjoy having a beer or having dinner with them.
One of my most special memories in Japan is watching the sunset on Enoshima Island with Mount Fuji in the background. Before I leave, I’d like to return to Enoshima to have a beer and enjoy the sunset. I want to fix that instant in my memory and make it an unforgettable experience that I will treasure forever.
Out of a perfect score of 100, how would you rate your life so far?
Without a doubt, I would confidently assign a perfect score of 100/100 to my life in Japan up to this point. My time at YNU has allowed me to grow both professionally and personally, and living in Japan has been an incredible catalyst for my personal development. In terms of my research, I’ve been guided by excellent professors to develop new topics, which has helped develop my research abilities further. On the personal side, I’ve had the privilege of connecting with people from all corners of the globe. I’ve developed the ability to see things from various perspectives; compared to before, I think I have grown a lot as a person. I will cherish the experiences I had the first time I came to Japan, and the memories of my daily life here forever.
As for my life so far, I would say probably a score of 80. Overall, I’ve been happy, although there were moments when I was less so. For example, last week I had a deadline for a paper, which was tough, because I had to work late every day. I also went through a period in my life of being overly particular. That was a difficult time, but through that experience I realized it was important to cherish relationships with people close to me, which ultimately gave me a new perspective on life.
What are your future career and life goals?
I will devote my life to energy engineering education and research. My time at YNU will end in December this year, and I will continue my teaching and research work at the University of Málaga. After I begin working at the University of Málaga, I will leverage all the knowledge and experience I acquired at YNU so that I can start a project where I can contribute to society. I will work not just in Spain but together with Japan and other countries, engaging in joint research to advance the progress of humankind. That is what I hope to accomplish in my research.
My goal as a bridge with Japan is to welcome international exchange students after I set up my own lab at the University of Málaga. And to maintain my relationships with my Japanese friends, I hope to invite them to Spain and show them around so that we can enjoy traveling together.
Compared to before coming to Japan, how do you feel you have changed since?
I feel much more self-confident now than before coming to Japan. Before coming, I worried whether I would be able to tackle new research topics, but I was able to do that. Moving out of my comfort zone in Spain, I’m really proud of myself that I was able to write good papers and develop relationships with many wonderful foreign friends. My experiences in Japan have had a positive effect on me and changed my outlook on life. Right now, I have confidence in myself and positive feelings about my future life and dreams. It’s thanks to my rich experiences in Japan that I can feel positive about the future.