Eiichi Nakamura1
The University of Tokyo1
Chemical phenomena are complex events where a variety of molecules stochastically appear on time scales ranging from nanoseconds to hours. Studying the stochastic behavior of individual molecules requires unconventional methods that differ from the traditional ensemble- and time-averaged experimental techniques. Crystal nucleation/growth is no exception. Since 2004, we have spent considerable effort on developing the SMART-EM technique (Single Molecule Atomic Resolution Time-resolved Electron Microscopy, ref 1, 2). In this talk, I will discuss the cinematographic recording of the whole process of the nucleation and growth of NaCl crystal (ref 3, 4 ) and of the PAN carbon fiber formation by pyrolysis of polyacrylonitrile (ref 5). We are transforming chemistry from the macroscopic paradigm of thermodynamics to the microscopic statistical mechanical paradigm.<br/><br/>References<br/>1. Imaging Single Molecules in Motion, M. Koshino et al., <i>Science</i>, 316, 853 (2007). DOI: 10.1126/science.1138690<br/>2. Atomic-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopic Movies for Study of Organic Molecules, Assemblies, and Reactions: The First 10 Years of Development, E. Nakamura, <i>Acc. Chem. Res.</i>, 50, 1281–1292 (2017). DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.7b00076<br/>3. Capturing the Moment of Emergence of Crystal Nucleus from Disorder, T. Nakamuro et al., <i>J. Am. Chem. Soc.</i>, 143, 1763-1767 (2021). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c12100<br/>4. Cinematographic recording of metastable floating island in 2-D and 3-D crystal growth, M. Sakakibara, H. Nada, T. Nakamuro, E. Nakamura, <i>ACS Cent. Sci</i>., <b>8</b>, 1704-1710 (2022). DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.2c01093<br/>5. Wavy Graphene-Like Network Forming During Pyrolysis of Polyacrylonitrile into Carbon Fiber, T. Ishikawa, F. Tanaka, K. Kurushima, A. Yasuhara, R. Sagawa, T; Fujita, R. Yonesaki, K. Iseki, T. Nakamuro, K. Harano, and E. Nakamura,<i> J. Am. Chem. Soc.</i> DOI.org/10.1021/jacs.3c02504