2024 Guinier Prize Winner: Prof. Takeji Hashimoto

We are pleased to announce that the 2024 Guinier Prize is awarded to Prof. Takeji Hashimoto from Kyoto University, Japan.

Professor Hashimoto was a distinguished faculty member at Kyoto University who has dedicated his career to the innovative application and development of Small-Angle Scattering (SAS) techniques, including a focus on combining measurements using X-rays (SAXS), neutrons (SANS), and light (SALS). His pioneering research has elucidated the complex behaviors of a variety of polymer systems, including block copolymers, polymer blends, gels, and nanocomposites, both in equilibrium and under dynamic conditions.

Among Professor Hashimoto’s notable contributions is his work that revealed the hierarchical scattering features of block copolymers, which established SAS as a common tool for characterizing their morphologies. His demonstration of the 2/3-power law of the molecular weight dependence of domain size using SAXS provided a foundation for elucidating the statistical thermodynamic origin of block copolymer microdomains. His research on polymer blends revealed the intricate mechanisms of spinodal decomposition, employing time-resolved SALS and SANS to uncover universal scaling laws and the dynamic evolution of phase-separated structures in these materials. His innovative use of combined SAS techniques enabled the comprehensive characterization of hierarchical structures across multiple length scales, significantly impacting the design and application of advanced polymers. Furthermore, by integrating SAS with rheo-optical methods for simultaneous measurement of mechanical and optical properties under shear, Professor Hashimoto extended the boundaries of what could be learned from either technique alone. His approach has led to the discovery of novel phenomena, such as shear-induced phase transitions and critical phenomena under flow, offering profound implications for both theoretical and applied polymer science. Professor Hashimoto has made many more significant contributions that cannot be fully enumerated here. 

Beyond his stellar research accomplishments, Prof. Hashimoto mentored students and associates, many of whom now hold prominent positions in academia and industry. As a project leader and a highly sought-after visiting professor, he guided SAS research in Japan and the rest of the world. His book, “Principles and Applications of X-ray, Light, and Neutron Scattering,” stands as a testament to his enduring commitment to advancing and disseminating knowledge related to small-angle scattering and macromolecular science and engineering. Prof. Hashimoto has been recognized as one of the most influential polymer physicists via numerous prestigious prizes, including the High Polymer Physics Prize (Ford Prize) from the American Physical Society. This Guinier Prize is an apt recognition of his broad impact in the field of polymer science, the central role small-angle scattering played in his pioneering work, and his outstanding contribution to the field of small-angle scattering.