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Three-Dimensional Nanostructure -"Nano Flower Bouquet"
Caption:
A three-dimensional nanostructure grown by controlled nucleation of silicon carbide nanowires on Gallium catalyst particles. As the growth proceeds, individual nanowires 'knit' together to form 3D structures. [To view other images in this series, search for Three-Dimensional Nanostructure using the Image Library search engine. All of the images in this series are copyright. See "Restrictions," below.
This photomicrograph was taken by Ghim Wei Ho, a Ph.D. student studying nanotechnology at Cambridge University. Ghim Wei--who works with Professor Mark Welland, head of Cambridge's Nanoscale Science Laboratory--makes new types of materials based on nanotechnology (these 'flowers' are an example of new material). Nanometer scale wires (about one thousandth the diameter of a human hair) of a silicon-carbon material (silicon carbide) are grown from tiny droplets of a liquid metal (Gallium) on a silicon surface, like the chips inside our home computers. The wires grow as a gas containing methane flows over the surface. The gas reacts at the surface of the droplets and condenses to form the wires. By changing the temperature and pressure of the growth process the wires can be controllably fused together in a natural process to form a range of new structures, including these flower-like materials.
Researchers are investigating possible applications for these structures, such as water repellant coatings and as a base for a new type of solar cell.
Note: All the images in the "Three-Dimensional Nanostructure" series were taken with a scanning electron microscope. Image color was modified using Adobe Photoshop.
(Preview Only)
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| Credit: |
©Ghim Wei Ho and Prof. Mark Welland, Nanostructure Center, University of Cambridge. |
| Year of Image: |
2004 |
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Categories:
NANOTECHNOLOGY
Formats Available:
TIFF Format - 16M - 2370 x 2362 pixel image - 300 DPI
Restrictions:
All of the images in the Three-Dimensional Nanostructure series are ©Ghim Wei Ho and Prof. Mark Welland, University of Cambridge. Permission is granted to use these images for personal, educational, and non-commercial/nonprofit use only. Any other use of these images is strictly prohibited. For a list of general restrictions that apply to this and all images in the NSF Image Library, see the section "Conditions".
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