*Result*: Deep Learning Analysis of Crystallization Using Polarized Light Microscopy and U-Net Segmentation.

Title:
Deep Learning Analysis of Crystallization Using Polarized Light Microscopy and U-Net Segmentation.
Authors:
Osiecka-Drewniak N; Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342 Kraków, Poland., Galewski Z; Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, PL-50383 Wrocław, Poland., Piwowarczyk M; Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342 Kraków, Poland., Juszyńska-Gałązka E; Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342 Kraków, Poland.; Research Center for Thermal and Entropic Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan.
Source:
The journal of physical chemistry. B [J Phys Chem B] 2025 Oct 09; Vol. 129 (40), pp. 10521-10527. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Sep 17.
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: American Chemical Society Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101157530 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1520-5207 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 15205207 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Phys Chem B Subsets: PubMed not MEDLINE; MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Original Publication: Washington, D.C. : American Chemical Society, c1997-
References:
Sci Rep. 2023 Apr 7;13(1):5737. (PMID: 37029181)
Front Neuroinform. 2022 Jun 09;16:911679. (PMID: 35756960)
Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2024 Mar 27;26(13):10144-10155. (PMID: 38488033)
Nat Methods. 2021 Feb;18(2):203-211. (PMID: 33288961)
Nat Methods. 2019 Jan;16(1):67-70. (PMID: 30559429)
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20250917 Latest Revision: 20251015
Update Code:
20260130
PubMed Central ID:
PMC12516727
DOI:
10.1021/acs.jpcb.5c03681
PMID:
40958672
Database:
MEDLINE

*Further Information*

*Understanding the crystallization behavior of materials is essential to controlling their physical properties. In this study, we present an approach that combines polarized light microscopy with deep learning techniques to investigate the crystallization process of liquid-crystalline compound 9BA4. A U-Net convolutional neural network was trained to perform semantic segmentation of microscopy textures, enabling automated identification of crystalline (Cr) and smectic (SmC) phases during nonisothermal cooling performed at multiple cooling rates. The model outputs probability maps, which are binarized to quantify the degree of crystallization over the temperature. The crystallization kinetics were further analyzed by fitting a sigmoidal function to the experimental data, and the inflection point of the fitted curve was used to identify the temperature of maximum crystallization. The data were then fitted to the Ozawa model. The proposed methodology demonstrates the effectiveness of combining traditional optical techniques with neural-network-based image analysis to extract quantitative insights from complex texture evolution during phase transitions.*