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Polymer Solution Science Lab
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The lab uses scattering methods to investigate the shape and assembly of polymers in solution.
AboutAbout the lab
Revealing the conformation and properties of polymers in solution
The Polymer Solution Science Lab studies the molecular conformation of polymers in solution, the aggregates formed by self-assembly, and the phase separation of solutions.
Polymers take an extremely wide variety of forms in solution and show distinctive properties not seen in low-molecular-weight compounds.
Using small-angle X-ray scattering, light scattering, and spectroscopy, the lab quantitatively examines structure and properties, from isolated polymer chains to aggregates and nanocomposites.
In its recent research highlights, the lab works with derivatives of polysaccharides such as pullulan and amylose, and investigates the structure of micelles formed in aqueous solution, among other topics.
Key terms
- Small-angle X-ray scattering
- A method that directs X-rays at a sample and uses the way they scatter at small angles to investigate nanoscale structures and molecular shapes
- Micelle
- An aggregate formed in solution when molecules that have both a water-loving part and a water-repelling part assemble
- Flower-necklace micelle
- A micelle in which small micelles of uniform size are linked in a line
- Phase separation
- A phenomenon in which a solution separates into two parts with different properties, such as a concentrated part and a dilute part
NewsLab news
A paper by Professor Terao and colleagues was published in Biomacromolecules
A paper by Associate Professor Takahashi and colleagues was published in Physical Review Letters
A paper by Associate Professor Takahashi and colleagues was published in Macromolecules
A doctoral student received the Outstanding On-Demand Presentation Award at the 75th SPSJ Annual Meeting
Associate Professor Takahashi was selected for Polymer Journal's Rising Stars in Polymer Science 2024
ResearchResearch themes
Polymers in solution adopt diverse conformations and show distinctive properties not seen in low-molecular-weight compounds. From a physical chemistry perspective, the lab investigates this behavior, working to clarify molecular conformations that change with intramolecular interactions and interactions with solvent molecules, structures such as micelles, and the phase separation of solutions.
*Illustrative imageDifferences in the molecular conformation of polysaccharide derivatives
The lab dissolves two pullulan derivatives in solvents and examines the stiffness of their chains. It found that the rigid helical structure seen in amylose derivatives with similar substituents is not formed in the pullulan derivatives.
*Illustrative imageSize-uniform polysaccharide micelles
Pullulan modified with decylsuccinic anhydride dissolves well in water in samples with a degree of substitution of 0.46 to 0.72, and forms flower-necklace micelles, in which micelles of uniform size are linked in a line. The lab has also confirmed that the size of the micelles changes with pH.
*Illustrative imageMolecular conformation of arabinogalactans
The lab examined the molecular conformation in solution of three plant-derived polysaccharides, arabinogalactans, using small-angle X-ray scattering and dynamic light scattering. The linear type behaved as a flexible polymer, and the branched type could be explained by a hyperbranched polymer model.
Forming ordered structures during polymerization
When block copolymers are made by polymerizing monomer from the end of a solvophilic polymer, choosing the monomer and solvent so that the growing block becomes insoluble as polymerization proceeds causes self-assembly to occur along with the polymerization. The lab showed that carrying this out at relatively high concentrations produces a variety of highly ordered microphase-separated structures.
MembersFaculty
Members of the Polymer Solution Science Lab consist of faculty, research students, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorKen Terao
- Associate ProfessorRintaro Takahashi
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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: “TriplexDNA(1BWG)” DubOOIan / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Differences in the molecular conformation of polysaccharide derivatives: “219 Three Important Polysaccharides-01” OpenStax College / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
- Size-uniform polysaccharide micelles: “FSL Micelle” Xiphiaz / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Molecular conformation of arabinogalactans: “Gum Arabic” Tarig A. Eltom / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
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