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Gold Nanostructures
Gold Nanostructures
These feather-like nanostructures are made of gold. As gold particles get smaller in size they interact with light differently, which creates colours. Centuries ago stained glass used gold nanoparticles to create different colors in the glass. Of course, at the time they didn't know they were using nanotechnology!
Bowtie
Bowtie
This bowtie shaped object is made from self-assembled nano components. This image is captured using a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) with blue false colouring added to highlight the bowtie shaped nanostructure.
Platinum Fingerprint
Platinum Fingerprint
A nanosized fingerprint? It may look like a fingerprint, but these folds are actually made of platinum nanowires on a silicon base. Platinum can be used in electrical devices and in chemistry. Silicon is the second most abundant element in the earth's crust and is the main component of computer chips. The image is captured using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with burgundy false colouring added.
Myocytes
Myocytes
This is an image of a section of muscle cells known as
myocytes. If you look at the background you can see horizontal lines with smaller vertical lines between them. These lines are sarcomeres; they are the contractile units of skeletal muscles. A muscle cell in your bicep is composed of about 100,000 sarcomeres. The blobs in the image are mitochondria - they provide the energy that allows muscles to contract. Mitochondria are 500 to 1000 nanometers in size. This image was taken with an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM).
Rosette Nanotubes
Rosette Nanotubes
These red structures that look like lightning bolts are actually organic nanotubes known as Rosette Nanotubes. They are formed through self-assembly in a liquid solution out of multiple DNA-like molecules. Researchers have found that their outer surface allows them to easily attach to other molecules. This could allow for delivery of medicine or could be added to other compounds to increase their strength. These nanotubes are about 3-8 nanometers in diameter, absolutely tiny, and were observed with a transmission electron microscope (TEM).
Donut
Donut
You would have to eat billions of these donuts to feel even close to full! Being only 800 nanometers in diameter and 150 nanometers thick, these nano-donuts are made out of rosette nanotubes. Rosette nanotubes are organic nanotubes self-assembled from DNA like building blocks.
Silicon Carbon Nitride Bridge
Silicon Carbon Nitride Bridge
This scanning electron microscope image is one of the world's smallest bridges - 20 nanometers wide and 2000 nm long! It is made of the elements silicon, carbon, and nitrogen. The bridge is very strong and can resist cracking or warping under various conditions. These properties make it a good structural material to use at the nanoscale.
Photoresist
Photoresist
This spongy structure is made of strong metal called titanium that has been treated with a light-sensitive material known as photoresist. Photoresist is used in several industrial processes for photoengraving and photolithography, which uses light to write or draw patterns on a base material.
Platinum Lithography
Platinum Lithography
Crop circles!? Nope, this is a scanning electron microscope image of a platinum nanostructure. The smaller rings act as a template for creating structures on the nanoscale.
Titanium Oxide Columns
Titanium Oxide Columns
This image of fluffy green blobs was taken with a transmission electron microscope, and is actually a cross section of titanium oxide columns. Titanium oxide is very versatile; it is used in paint (as it is very bright and white) and as sunscreen (as a thickener, white pigment, and UV absorber). Recently, researchers have found that titanium oxide has interesting electronic properties at the nanoscale.
Carbon Nanotubes
Carbon Nanotubes
In this scanning electron microscope image the pink wooly roll is made of carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes are extremely thin with a diameter around 10,000 times smaller than a human hair. They are extremely strong, stronger than steel, and have good thermal conductivity. Researchers are considering many different applications for material science, chemical engineering, biology, medicine, and electronics… just to name a few!
Carbon Nanotubes on a Cantilever
Carbon Nanotubes on a Cantilever
This is a scanning electron microscope image of a patch of nanosized carbon nanotubes on the tip of a microscopic cantilever (a beam supported on only one end). This device is being researched for a possible sensor in Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS). These devices are very sensitive and may one day be found in all kinds of monitoring systems, like pressure sensors to monitor blood pressure.
Maple Leaf
Maple Leaf
What you see is a scanning electron microscope image of a maple leaf. The outer surface of leaves contain structures that look like lips known as Stoma. These structures are used for plant respiration (exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide) and the release of water vapor. The stoma are made up of two guard cells, which range in size from 3-4 micrometers.
Nanorods
Nanorods
These hair-like projections are nanorods seen under a scanning electron microscope and are formed by a technique known as glancing angle deposition. Scientists use this technique to control the shape, size, and orientation of the nanorods. This allows an increase in surface area over which light can react, creating better solar cells for generating solar power.
Platinum Nanostructures
Platinum Nanostructures
This is an example of platinum nanostructures. These structures have conformed to a designed template, like a muffin conforms to the shape of a muffin tin. This mold is only a couple of nanometers tall and helps guide the self-assembly process.
Ice Crystals
Ice Crystals
Does this remind you of snowflakes? These beautiful structures are actually ice crystals seen with a scanning electron microscope. The speed at which the water freezes determines the pattern it forms. Who would have thought water could look like that!
Nanoresonator
Nanoresonator
This scanning electron microscope image is of a twisting nanoresonator sensor with a magnetic disc in the center. A nanoresonator is a nanosized structure that can generate or detect specific electromagnetic or mechanical frequencies like sound or radio signals. Research into nanoscale devices and structures, such as this nanoresonator, are helping to decrease the size of technology we find in our everyday lives.
Silicon Wafer
Silicon Wafer
This scanning electron microscope image of what appears to be a cavern is actually of a silicon wafer! This silicon wafer had nanosized holes drilled out and filled with tungsten. Tungsten is chemically resistant, extremely hard, and has the highest melting point of all metals at just above 3400 degrees Celsius.
