Scenes from the nanoscale unveils the intricate beauty of materials, organisms, and phenomena that exist beyond the limits of the naked eye. As you navigate this exhibition, you'll encounter textures, patterns, and formations that challenge perceptions of scale and materiality. What may seem like a cosmic landscape or an abstract painting is, in fact, the delicate imprint of a sea coral or the complex geometry of a semiconductor. Scenes from the nanoscale invites viewers to consider the profound connections between science, nature, and artistic imagination—offering a rare glimpse into the hidden universe that exists all around, and within us.
Superalloys, James LeBeau, et al.
Not all metal materials are created equal for every purpose. Some metals are light and some are heavy; some rust and some resist corrosion; some are strong and some are brittle. However, none of the metal alloys we find in everyday life are suitable for airplane turbines. Metals used in turbines must be lightweight, very strong, and capable of withstanding extreme heat and corrosive environments. Scientists have engineered metallic superalloys to be reliable in harsh environments, such as the alloy of nickel and aluminum, shown here. The bonding interactions between the alloying elements, and the ordering and arrangement of the atoms into a specific lattice or crystal structure make these alloys both strong and resilient. Each colorful dot represents an atom.
Microscopic Crystal Flowers of Cuprous Oxide #1, Anna Osherov, Matthew Panzer, et al.
Cuprous oxide, also known as cuprite, is one of the principle oxides of copper and is widely used as a coating for the hulls of ships to prevent algae growth. Understanding the electronic and atomic structure of cuprite helps us to predict and control the corrosion behavior of copper as well as discover other potential applications. These micro flowers of cuprous oxide were naturally grown from an aqueous solution via electrodeposition and photographed with scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Gallium Arsenide Nanowires, Daniel Jacobsson, Federico Panci, Frances Ross, et al.
These long thin crystals, called nanowires, are useful building blocks in new types of electronic devices. They are grown by feeding the ingredients (here, gallium and arsenic atoms) into a liquid droplet catalyst which helps the atoms to crystallize. One reason nanowires are so useful is that this growth method allows us to achieve precise control over the atomic structure, and hence the electronic properties, of each nanowire. Here, several nanowire transmission electron microscope (TEM) images have been color-coded to show regions with two different atomic arrangements, hexagonal (brown) and cubic (grey). Each atomic structure has different electronic properties, and we can switch between structures by changing the pressure and temperature during growth.
Gold and Germanium on Boron Nitride, Frances Ross, et al.
Two-dimensional materials such as graphene and boron nitride are useful in electronic devices, but first we need to connect them to the normal, three-dimensional world. This TEM image is part of a study of how three-dimensional and two-dimensional materials interact. A gold nanocrystal (lower, grey region of the image) was grown on boron nitride (lighter background) and then a germanium nanocrystal (upper dark region) was grown using the gold as a catalyst. The details within the gold and germanium are moiré patterns that show how the crystal lattices of gold and germanium are aligned with the lattice of the boron nitride.
Microscopic Crystal Flowers of Cuprous Oxide #2, Anna Osherov, Matthew Panzer, et al.
Crystal habits of cuprous oxides include cube, octahedron, dodecahedron, and combinations of these forms allow formation of artistic flower-like structures.
Human A6 Ring, Ed Brignole, Catherine Drennan, et al.
Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR, for short) is a macromolecular biological catalyst that accelerates chemical reactions important for the synthesis of DNA. Cells often need to make more DNA, for example when they are about to divide or need to repair their genetic information. The building blocks of DNA –deoxyribonucleotides – are created through a series of biochemical reactions This 3D structure of the inhibited form of human ribonucleotide reductase was reconstructed from data obtained via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at cryogenic conditions.
Human Nuclear Pore Complex, Anthony Schuller, Thomas Schwartz, et al.
The nuclear pore complex (NPC) regulates transit of cargo between the nucleus and cytoplasm in eukaryotic cells. Using cryo-focused ion beam (cryo-FIB) milling, researchers were able to observe NPCs inside native human cells and perform cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) and sub-tomogram averaging to generate a three-dimensional model of this massive protein complex.
E. Coli Bacteria Subdivision, Paula Navarro, Andrea Vettiger, Luke Chao and Thomas Bernhardt, et al.
Remarkable developments of the Cryo-electron tomography enabled imaging the interior of bacterial cells with molecular resolution. Tomographic slice from the vitreous section of a dividing E. coli bacteria cell highlighting inner membrane and cell wall organization during bacteria division. Scale bar 200 nm." This is the first time that the division process is visualized in native (in situ) E. coli cells.
Titanium Dioxide Nanotubes, Anna Osherov, Vladimir Bulovic, et al.
Nanoscale objects come in all shapes and sizes. Nanotubes are one example. The elongated shape is achieved by selection of appropriate control agents that bond to specific facets of the crystal such that different faces of the nanotubes grow at different rates. Titanium dioxide has been used in various forms for over 100 years. Nowadays nanoparticles of titanium dioxide are manufactured worldwide in large quantities for use in a wide range of applications,
Titanium Dioxide Nanotubes (Detail Shot), Anna Osherov, Vladimir Bulovic, et al.
Nanoscale objects come in all shapes and sizes. Nanotubes are one example. The elongated shape is achieved by selection of appropriate control agents that bond to specific facets of the crystal such that different faces of the nanotubes grow at different rates. Titanium dioxide has been used in various forms for over 100 years. Nowadays nanoparticles of titanium dioxide are manufactured worldwide in large quantities for use in a wide range of applications
Photonic Crystal Micro-Bottle, Anna Osherov, Yuval Golan, et al.
This Cross-sectional TEM image shows a composite photonic crystal structure based on silicon created via combination of various fabrication techniques. Photonic Crystal macro or nanostructures are formed by a periodic array of cavities etched in a wafer. Such patterning changes the properties of the silicon, giving it new uses in optics as well as microelectronics.
Micro-Graft, Nicole Bohn
The application of 3D printing in grafts is gaining in importance and is becoming more and more popular. Teeny graft prototype (750 micron in diameter -width of about 7 human hairs), 3D Printed by Sabrina Strobel on NanoOne, two photon polymerization printer.
Faceted Crystallites of BaZrS3, Jack Van Sambeek, Rafael Jaramillo, et al.
BaZrS3 perovskites have emerged as a promising active layer in solar cell applications. Faceted crystallites of BaZrS3 following high-temperature sulfurization processing exhibit very defined step like morphology were revealed via Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).
Metal Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals, Weikun Zhu, Farnaz Niroui, et al.
Nanocrystals have unique physical and chemical properties due to their small size, high surface area-to-volume ratio, and ability to interact with light in intricate ways. This false color digital micrograph of metal halide perovskite nanocrystals depicting the atomic lattice.
The Labyrinth of Red Sea Coral, Nicole Bohn
More than 200 types of soft and hard coral live in the sea. Corals extract dissolved inorganic carbon from seawater and efficiently convert it into calcium carbonate, the major constituent of their skeletons. While much progress has been made in identifying many of the key elements of the biologic machinery that are integral to the biocalcification process there are still significant gaps to fill. 3D X-Ray Reconstruction depicts the inner structure of the Coral labyrinth.
An Oxide Material Grown On Germanium, James LeBeau, et al.
When two materials are brought together, an interface is formed between them. These interfaces can host unique properties that differ greatly from the base materials. Here, an oxide material, an insulator, was grown on germanium, a semiconductor. Note how the order breaks between the two regions. Interfaces like these are enabling next generation electronic devices.
Defects, James LeBeau, et al.
In many materials, atoms find their ‘ideal’ positions, which are periodic and undisturbed. However, sometimes atoms fit together improperly, forming a defect or forming another ‘phase’ altogether. In the image, the structure of the atoms changes towards the center. Sometimes these defects change the material properties in unexpected ways, making new technologies possible.
Gold Micro-Shapes, Anna Osherov, Farnaz Niroui, Vladimir Bulovic, et al.
Gold is one of the least reactive chemical elements on earth and therefore attractive for a multitude of applications. These gold micro plates are atomically flat and can enable variety of novel applications in microelectronics and medicine.