Hiroshi Jinnai

Self-consistent field theory predicts that the complex phase behavior of block copolymers does not originate solely from the interface seeking constant mean curvature as once thought, but instead reflects competing minimization of interfacial tension and packing frustration. To test this prediction, we directly measure interfacial curvature distributions from a 3D image reconstruction of the bicontinuous gyroid morphology. Results obtained here reveal that the gyroid interface is not constant me

This Perspective summarizes the recent advances and perspective in three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques and their applications to polymer nanostructures, e.g., microphase-separated structures of block copolymers. We place particular emphasis on the method of transmission electron microtomography (TEMT). As a result of some recent developments in TEMT, it is now possible to obtain truly quantitative 3D images of polymer nanostructures with subnanometer resolution. The introduction of scannin

Laser scanning confocal microscopy has been used to study the time evolution of a three dimensional spatially bicontinuous structure of a phase-separated polymer blend undergoing the late stage of spinodal decomposition, as a model example of condensed matter systems. Both the mean and Gaussian curvatures of the interface between two coexisting phases have been directly measured for the first time from the reconstructed 3D image. The Gaussian curvature is negative, clearly demonstrating that the

This feature article summarizes recent advances in an emerging three-dimensional (3D) imaging technique, transmission electron microtomography (TEMT), and its applications to polymer-related materials, such as nanocomposites and block copolymer morphologies. With the recent developments made in TEMT, it is now possible to obtain truly quantitative 3D data with sub-nanometer resolution. A great deal of new structural information, which has never been obtained by conventional microscopy or various

This paper reviews recent progress concerning polymeric self-assemblies in confined spaces, including phase-separated structures of polymer blends and block copolymers. Although a wide variety of polymer self-assemblies have been studied in terms of conventional parameters, such as blend ratio, interaction of constituent polymers, block ratio, and molecular weight, a series of unique structures appear when the systems are self-assembled under confined conditions. Due to the limited space for pha

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTDirect Observation of Three-Dimensional Bicontinuous Structure Developed via Spinodal DecompositionHiroshi Jinnai, Yukihiro Nishikawa, Tsuyoshi Koga, and Takeji HashimotoCite this: Macromolecules 1995, 28, 13, 4782–4784Publication Date (Print):June 1, 1995Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 June 1995https://doi.org/10.1021/ma00117a071RIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views692Altmetric-Citations111LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle

We present the experimental visualization of the three-dimensional (3D) helical morphology of a polystyrene-block-polybutadiene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) triblock terpolymer (SBM) using transmission electron microtomography. Our results uncovered a left-handed (and to a similar degree, right-handed) double helical structure composed of polybutadiene (PB) helical microdomains around polystyrene (PS) cores. The addition of short polystyrene chains into the PS cores by solution blending was f

The time-evolution of a three-dimensional (3D), bicontinuous interface of a phase-separated polymer mixture in the late stage spinodal decomposition (SD) process has been studied by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and time-resolved light scattering. The time evolution of the interface between two coexisting phases developed via SD (“spinodal interface”) was quantitatively captured in 3D by using LSCM. On the basis of the differential geometry, probability densities of the local curvatu

The three-dimensional (3D) morphology of particulate fillers embedded in a rubbery matrix was examined by transmission electron microtomography (TEMT). Two types of nanofillers, i.e., carbon black (CB) and silica (Si) nanoparticles, were used as the nanofillers. Although the CB and Si nanoparticles were difficult to distinguish by conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM), they appeared different by TEMT; the CB and Si nanoparticles appeared to be hollow and solid particles in the cros

Sponge-like bicontinuous morphologies (see Figure and also cover) are ubiquitous in the physical and biological sciences, but are only qualitatively understood in terms of their structure. Here, 3D imaging techniques are used to explore the characteristics of such morphologies at the nanoscale, microscale, and macroscale. Comparison of local and global topology metrics provides quantitative evidence of similarities between these morphologies.

Time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments have been performed on the self-assembling process of a binary mixture of deuterated polybutadiene and protonated polybutadiene at the critical composition. This mixture has an upper critical solution temperature type of phase diagram with the spinodal temperature at 99.2 °C. Specimens held in the single-phase state at an initial temperature (Ti) were quenched to a point inside the spinodal phase boundary at a final temperature (Tf)