November/December 2023 competitors
Conductive polymer (PEDOT) growing on carbon fibers in a mesh (carbon felt substrate). Microscope: SEM Gemini.
When LaTiO2N nanoparticles greet you at the start of your SEM session. Microscope: SEM Merlin.
This explosion resulted from a lithography mishap, frozen in time after etching the thin film. Microscope: SEM Merlin.
Thin layer of selenium dewetted into beautifully spread droplets on winding resist valleys resulting from unwanted buckling. Microscope: SEM Gemini.
September/October 2023 competitors
Dendritic growth of copper during electrodeposition resembling blooming of flowers. Microscope: FIB XBeam.
The nanoporous carbon film rolled up after immersed in liquid nitrogen. Microscope: SEM Teneo.
This mouse is also enjoying the bounty of autumn in the nanoworld! Microscope: TEM Spirit.
Copper electrodepositing in the form of a plant known as baby’s-breath (Gypsophila). These copper flowers can be used as bouquets. Microscope-FIB XBeam
Array of squares on a polymer sheet. Microscope: SEM Gemini.
Copper cliffs formed over a network of conductive particles during electrodeposition. Resembling Ponta da Piedade coastal cliffs, motivating us to visit Lagos before the winter strikes. Microscope: FIB XBeam.
July/August 2023 competitors
Array of square patterned on a polymer sheet. Microscope: SEM Gemini.
This is the crescent moon seen from the nano world. Cu nanoparticles gather to form the moon. Meet the crescent moon that can only be seen through a microscope! Microscope: TEM Spirit.
Polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF) polymer thin film after thermally drawing. This soft and plastic film under microscopy looks like fire burning with flames. Microscope: SEM Gemini.
May/June 2023 competitors
CVD growth graphene on Cu foil, with some oxidized Cu parts due to the partial coverage of graphene. Microscope: SEM Teneo.
Iron (oxy)hydroxides precipitate on the bacterial cell. Microscope: SEM Gemini.
The pyramid was formed during the Zr-based metal organic framework growth. Microscope: SEM Teneo.
Iron (oxy)hydroxides precipitating on the bacterial cells. Microscope: SEM Gemini.
The sun [electron beam] casts its golden rays over the rugged terrain, where various shapes and sizes of ‘[micro-] boulders’ dot the [iron oxide] landscape. Some are round, others are sharp and angular, but all have a story to tell. They have witnessed the passage of time, erosion, moss, and lichen growth. They stand as silent sentinels, creating a contrast with texture and depth to the scene. The photo invites the viewer to explore and discover more. [– The SEM image of iron oxide micro-boulders– ] Microscope: SEM Gemini.
The space left after bacterial cell ‘bursting’ out of the cast formed by iron precipitating on the cell outermembrane. Iron (oxy)hydroxides precipitation was proposed to be one of only a few ways to preserve the cells in the fossil record. Can we use them to search for past life on Mars? More: doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00513. Microscope: SEM Gemini.
The functional group sits in the middle of pore in the oxygen-functionalized porous graphene. Microscope: TEM Themis.
SEM image of a chemically synthesized gold crystalline flake exhibiting a fractal-shaped defect, reminiscent of von Koch fractal. Perhaps, the crystal was unlucky to get a defect during the growth as it was labelled with the unlucky number 13? Microscope: SEM/FIB CrossBeam.
During thermal treatment and calcination, the porous ZnO sintered and aggregated to form larger particles. Microscope: TEM Talos.
March/April 2023 competitors
For 2023 St-Patrick’s day: an Irish fiddle made of the stacking of Cu cubes and few Cu rods. Microscope: TEM Spirit.
During thermal treatment and calcination, ZnO nano clusters sintered and aggregated to bigger particles. Microscope: TEM Talos.
Multilayer of polytriazine imides host the honeycomb structure with AA’ layer stacking. The as-synthesized PTI with intercalated Li and Cl ions in the pore channels. Microscope: TEM Talos.
January/February 2023 competitors
Unwanted wrinkle in a porous nanocrystalline graphene membrane. Microscope: FEI Teneo SEM.
What a nostalgia of those days spent playing with wooden blocks on the floor! But wait, who left these toys lying around in the SEM? Silver nanoparticles oberved with SEM Gemini 300. False colors added with Photoshop. Microscope: Zeiss GeminiSEM 300.
From a distance (low magnification) the image seems to contain polymer fiber peaks formed at the junction where fibers from different directions meet. A closer analysis reveals what appears to be molten polymer of the top fibers fusing or spreading over the cooled down fibers below them. The technique used here is called melt electrowriting (MEW) and permits controlled deposition of fibers to create different designs. Poly Capro Lactone is the polymer used and the samples have not been coated. Microscope: Zeiss GeminiSEM 300.
‘Cause you’re a sky, ’cause you’re a sky full of… dislocations! Wasn’t that the famous Coldplay’s song? The image represents a thin film of Ge on a Si substrate and it was made by aligning the electron beam to the z-axis of the sample with a little tilt (ECCI – electron channelling contrast imaging). Microscope: Zeiss Merlin SEM.
The SnO2 films were deposited on FTO/glass substrates by using chemical bath deposition method with (a) 3-hour, (b) 4-hour, (c) 5-hour and (d) 6-hour deposition time. The working mode of SEM Gemini machine is InLens with 1.0 kV and magnification of 30.00 K. For inset images, the working mode is InLens with 1.0 kV and magnification of 40.00 K. Prof. Paul J. Dyson agrees to authorize CIME to publish it on CIME websites. Microscope: Zeiss GeminiSEM 300.
Freeze-died polymeric core shell particle. Microscope: Zeiss GeminiSEM 300.
Shining ZIF-L nanosheets prepared in aqueous phase. Microscope: FEI Teneo SEM.
