A5024379826- Enzyme Structure and Function
- nanoparticles nucleation surface interactions
- Crystallization and Solubility Studies
- Silicon and Solar Cell Technologies
- Thin-Film Transistor Technologies
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Semiconductor Quantum Structures and Devices
- Semiconductor materials and interfaces
- Silicon Nanostructures and Photoluminescence
- Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Magnetic and Electromagnetic Effects
- Material Dynamics and Properties
- Solidification and crystal growth phenomena
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Freezing and Crystallization Processes
- Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
- Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
- Protein purification and stability
- Semiconductor materials and devices
- Molecular Junctions and Nanostructures
- Calcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition
- Icing and De-icing Technologies
- Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
Hokkaido University
2015-2024
B. Verkin Institute for Low Temperature Physics and Engineering of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
2017-2020
Tokyo-Kita Medical Center
2015
Osaka University
2001-2013
Japan Science and Technology Agency
1999-2013
Tohoku University
2002-2012
Worldwide Protein Data Bank
2012
Crystal Research (United States)
2012
Tokushima University
2002-2011
Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University
2001-2009
Ice plays crucially important roles in various phenomena because of its abundance on Earth. However, revealing the dynamic behavior quasi-liquid layers (QLLs), which governs surface properties ice crystals at temperatures near melting point, remains an experimental challenge. Here we show that two types QLL phases appear exhibit different morphologies and dynamics. We directly visualized QLLs crystal surfaces by advanced optical microscopy, can visualize individual 0.37-nm-thick elementary...
Since the pioneering prediction of surface melting by Michael Faraday, it has been widely accepted that thin water layers, called quasi-liquid layers (QLLs), homogeneously and completely wet ice surfaces. Contrary to this conventional wisdom, here we both theoretically experimentally demonstrate QLLs have more than two wetting states there is a first-order transition between them. Furthermore, find are born not only under supersaturated conditions, as recently reported, but also at...
The ice premelt, often called the quasi-liquid layer (QLL), is key for lubrication of ice, gas uptake by and growth aerosols. Despite its apparent importance, in-depth understanding premelt from microscopic to macroscopic scale has not been gained. By reviewing data obtained using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy, laser confocal differential interference contrast microscopy (LCM-DIM), we provide a unified view experimentally observed variation...
Due to the abundance of ice on earth, phase transition plays crucially important roles in various phenomena nature. Hence, molecular-level understanding crystal surfaces holds key unlocking secrets a number fields. In this study we demonstrate, by laser confocal microscopy combined with differential interference contrast microscopy, that elementary steps (the growing ends ubiquitous molecular layers minimum height) crystals and their dynamic behavior can be visualized directly at air-ice...
Significance Thin liquid water layers, so-called “quasi-liquid layers” (QLLs), exist on ice surfaces just below the melting point (0 °C). The formation of QLLs governs various important phenomena Earth, such as weather- and environment-related issues, winter sports, etc. Hence, have attracted considerable attention in fields physics, meteorology, crystal growth, surface science. Our molecular-level observation by advanced optical microscopy reveals that are formed kinetically metastable...
We report on the performance of solar cells with stacked self-assembled Ge dots in intrinsic region Si-based p-i-n diode. These were epitaxially grown p-type Si(100) substrate via Stranski–Krastanov growth mode by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy. Enhanced external quantum efficiency (EQE) infrared up to 1.45 μm was observed for compared that without dots. Furthermore, EQE found increase increasing number stacking. results show electron-hole pairs generated can be efficiently separated...
Some biological substances control the nucleation and growth of inorganic crystals. Antifreeze proteins, which prohibit ice crystal in living organisms, promise are also important as antifreezes for medical applications frozen food industries. In this work, we investigated crystallization presence a new cryoprotector, carboxylated ε-poly-L-lysine (COOH-PLL). order to reveal characteristics mechanism its antifreeze effect, free-growth experiments crystals were carried out solutions with...
In this work we studied the kinetics of gypsum crystals growing from aqueous solutions as a function temperature and supersaturation. Laser confocal differential interference contrast microscopy (LCM-DIM) atomic force (AFM) were used to observe in situ step advancement evolution surface morphology {010} face. We found that, for experimental conditions study, 2D nucleation is main generation mechanism, even at low supersaturations, only few spiral hillocks observed. Due elongated islands...
High-throughput protein X-ray crystallography offers a significant opportunity to facilitate drug discovery. The most reliable approach is determine the three-dimensional structure of protein-ligand complex by soaking ligand in apo crystals. However, crystals produced conventional crystallization solution are fatally damaged osmotic shock during soaking. To overcome this difficulty, we present novel technique for growing high-concentration hydrogel that completely gellified and exhibits high...
Ice-binding proteins (IBPs) affect ice crystal growth by attaching to faces. We present the effects on of an single caused ice-binding protein from sea microalga Fragilariopsis cylindrus (fcIBP) that is characterized widespread domain unknown function 3494 (DUF3494) and known cause a moderate freezing point depression (below 1 °C). By application interferometry, bright-field microscopy, fluorescence we observed fcIBP attaches basal faces crystals, thereby inhibiting their in c direction...
The relative merits and domains of application three observation techniques (atomic force microscopy, Michelson interferometry, laser confocal microscopy with differential interference contrast microscopy) for the investigation crystal growth kinetics are discussed in context protein crystallization. Growth rate measurements on same system under identical experimental conditions using different show differences up to 5-fold a behavior as function supersaturation. These results terms mass...
We observed two-dimensional (2D) nucleation behavior on {110} and {101} faces of tetragonal crystals model protein lysozyme by laser confocal microscopy combined with differential interference contrast (LCM-DIM). measured, for the first time directly noninvasively, 2D rates using 99.99% pure lysozyme, 98.5% (Seikagaku Co.), intentionally added impure proteins (fluorescent-labeled covalently bonded dimer 18 kDa polypeptide). found that was dominant growth mechanism under conditions adopted in...
We found that the use of a gel solution with agarose enhanced femtosecond laser-induced nucleation and produced hen egg white lysozyme crystals at three to five times lower supersaturation than those by laser or alone. The fast fluorescence imaging protein in revealed cavitation bubbles created high-concentration regions focal point, which could be trigger for nucleation. diffusions molecules retained longer time, facilitated