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Polymer Synthetic Chemistry Lab
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The lab controls polymers from their molecular structure to their assembled structure.
AboutAbout the lab
Encoding polymers
The Polymer Synthetic Chemistry Lab aims to create polymer materials with new properties and functions by hierarchically controlling everything from molecular structure to assembled structure.
Combining precision polymerization and self-assembly, the lab makes amphiphilic nano-assemblies and nanostructured materials that dynamically recognize and organize themselves in response to their environment.
At the level of functional groups and atomic groups, the lab works on precisely programming the structure, properties, and functions of polymers.
On the lab's website, it is introduced under the name 'Terashima Lab.'
Key terms
- Micelle
- A small particle formed when hydrophobic parts gather together in water. Those in this lab are about 10 nm.
- Self-sorting
- Behavior in which polymers with different structures recognize one another and selectively gather with those of the same kind.
- Microphase separation
- A phenomenon in which hydrophilic and hydrophobic side chains separate into different regions, forming regular nanoscale structures.
NewsLab news
View More ↗ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims to create polymer materials that show new properties and functions by hierarchically controlling everything from molecular structure to assembled structure. To this end, it develops methods for the precise synthesis of amphiphilic and functional polymers, and builds systems that control self-assembly to a high degree.
*Illustrative imagePolymer micelles precisely made in water
Amphiphilic random copolymers with hydrophilic PEG chains and hydrophobic alkyl groups form single-chain or multichain micelles in water. The lab designs composition and chain length by living radical polymerization, and independently controls micelle size and aggregation number.
*Illustrative imageMicelles that recognize one another and gather
When copolymers with different compositions or hydrophobic side chains are mixed in water, they show self-sorting: polymers of the same kind selectively gather and form separate micelles. Using the aqueous environment in the design as well as molecular structure, the lab is extending this to materials such as self-healing hydrogels.
*Illustrative imageNanostructured materials with aligned side chains
In side-chain-type microphase separation, copolymers with hydrophilic and hydrophobic side chains form structures such as lamellae with periods of 10 nm or less, in bulk and in thin films. By designing the composition and side-chain structure, the lab controls domain spacing and is extending this to nanostructured materials that respond to humidity.
*Illustrative imageSynthetic methods for precisely making polymers
Using precision polymerization techniques such as living radical polymerization, as well as polymerization systems it has developed itself, the lab works on establishing synthetic methods that control polymer structure. It has achieved the creation of amphiphilic polymers, sequence-controlled polymers, star polymers, and more.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Polymer Synthetic Chemistry Lab are faculty, a secretary, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and students from Kyoto University under commissioned research supervision.As of 2026
- ProfessorTakaya Terashima
- Associate ProfessorArihiro Kanazawa
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Brechung” Friedrich Haag / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Polymer micelles precisely made in water: “FSL Micelle” Xiphiaz / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Micelles that recognize one another and gather: “Lipid bilayer and micelle svg” Urutseg / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Nanostructured materials with aligned side chains: “Sbs block copolymer” Peter R Lewis / Public domain (cropped)
- Synthetic methods for precisely making polymers: “Grafting from synthesis” Robert J. Young and Peter A. Lovell / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Functional Molecular Materials Lab): “Fluorescence of Anthracene under UV light” TimJW12 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Precision Polymer Science Lab): “Plastic pellets for injection molding” Teemeah / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Structural Organic Chemistry Lab): “Epichlorohydrin-3D-molecular-model-engraved-render-CAS-106-89-8” MolGod Scientific / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Polymer Reaction Chemistry Lab): “Polypropylene Pellets - DPLA - f7c2fa29d14525ce21219452f4a1a316” Quantum Chemical Corporation / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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