Takayuki Nakamuro (Tokyo University): Exploring Molecular Science through Atomic-Resolution Electron Microscopy

Crystal growth and self-organization are fundamental phenomena that span numerous scientific disciplines, yet their underlying mechanisms remain challenging to elucidate and control. These processes typically occur at extremely small spatial and temporal scales and are often governed by stochastic dynamics, rendering experimental observation and verification inherently difficult. To address this challenge, Dr. Nakamuro has adopted a synthetic chemistry–driven approach, developing customized observation platforms tailored to specific chemical phenomena. By leveraging transmission electron microscopy (TEM),1 he has succeeded in directly analyzing molecular-scale dynamics with high spatial and temporal resolution. This work has uncovered that molecular assemblies can exhibit flexible and fluctuating behaviors that deviate from predictions based on conventional theoretical frameworks,2 thereby providing new insights into molecular disorder and entropy. Building on these advances, he has recently expanded his methodologies to the fields of organic reaction mechanisms, demonstrating that TEM can be applied even to chemical species previously considered unsuitable for direct TEM observations.3 This seminar will present the frontiers of atomic-resolution in situ TEM as a transformative tool in molecular science, highlighting both the technical innovations and their broad applicability in understanding complex dynamic chemical systems.

1 T. Nakamuro, Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 97, uoae082 (2024).
2 M. Sakakibara, M. Hanaya, T. Nakamuro, E. Nakamura, Science 387, 522–527 (2025).
3 J. Fu, T. Nakamuro, E. Nakamura, Science in press.

*This seminar will be recognized as Chiral Knot Special Seminars I&II of the Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering.

Zoom Information:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2022111100

(Meeting code: 2022111100 Password: skcm2)