Introduction to Nanotechnology – Images

There is a large number of absolutely amazing images out there. We picked some of the most spectacular for you:

golden pyramid - tip of an atomic force microscope

Developing new instruments to be able to "see" at the nanoscale is a research field in itself. Shown here is the tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM), one of the foremost tools for imaging, measuring and manipulating matter at the nanoscale. Here, a platinum electrode measuring one hundredth of a nanometer has been deposited on the tip of this pyramid shaped AFM tip via focused ion beam (FIB) deposition. (Image: C. Menozzi, G.C. Gazzadi, S3 (INFM-CNR), Modena. Artwork: Lucia Covi)

Nano-Explosions – Color-enhanced scanning electron micrograph of an overflowed electrodeposited magnetic nanowire array (CoFeB), where the template has been subsequently completely etched. Its a reminder that nanoscale research can have unpredicted consequences at a high level. (Image: Fanny Beron, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Canada)

Climatic change on carbon nanotubes – Carbon nanotubes have many characteristics that promise to revolutionize the world of structural materials. There are different ways to grow carbon nanotubes, especially the CVD technique, which allows obtaining SWCNTs on a silicon surface. These SWCNT can be carried from the silicon surface to another surface, as HOPG, without suffering changes on their properties. That means nanomanipulation of carbon nanotubes. (Mr Miguel Ângel Fernández Vindel, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid/Spain)

The imaged object is a single crystalline diamond grain that is anisotropically etched by hot spheres of molten nickel (red). Self-organized nickel particles are obtained by sintering a thin Ni film (100 nm) that is evaporated on a polished diamond substrate. Self-organisation and etching are conducted by the following annealing procedure: 1000°C in 500 mbar H2, 24 h. (Image: Waldemar Smirnov, Fraunhofer Institut Angewandte Festkörperphysik, Germany)

Nano PacMan made of copper oxide. Scanning electron microscope image of a copper oxide cluster, 3.5 microns in diameter, prepared by evaporation and condensation over an alumina substrate. The smiley nose and eye are present in the original SEM image, which has only been color-enhanced. (Image: Elisabetta Comini, University of Brescia, Italy)

We have a collection of these amazing images in some of our articles. You can find them here:

	Nano Teddybear, Garden of Eden and other spectacular images (Image on the left courtesy of the Materials Research Society Science as Art Competition and University of Waterloo)
	Blow-up: The startling landscapes of nanotechnology
	Science as Art Fall 2007 competition (Image on the left courtesy of the Materials Research Society Science as Art Competition and The Johns Hopkins University)
	Science as Art Spring 2008 competition (Image on the left courtesy of the Materials Research Society Science as Art Competition and Sandia National Laboratories)
	SPMage07 competition
	SPMage09 competition
	Nano-Kamasutra and other nanotechnology images
	Of Van Gogh nanotubes and nano-witches (Image on the left courtesy of the Materials Research Society Science as Art Competition and Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi)
	Nano PacMan, self-illuminating flowers and other winning images (Image on the left courtesy of the Materials Research Society Science as Art Competition and University of Wisconsin)
	A good Micrograph is worth more than the MegaByte it consumes
	The Silk Collective, moon rises, and other winning nanotechnology images (Image on the left courtesy of the Materials Research Society Science as Art Competition and Michigan Technological University)
	'Nano Graveyard' other amazing nanotechnology images (Image on the left courtesy of the Materials Research Society Science as Art Competition and Stanford University)
	'Carbon Galaxy' other amazing nanotechnology images (Image on the left courtesy of the Materials Research Society Science as Art Competition and Argonne National Laboratory)
	'Hedgehog particles' other amazing nanotechnology images (Image on the left courtesy of the Materials Research Society Science as Art Competition)
	'Nano World' other amazing nanotechnology images from Argonne National Lab's 'Art of Science' contest
	'Nano Aliens' other amazing nanotechnology images (Image on the left courtesy of the Materials Research Society Science as Art Competition and Marcel Mueller, IMS TU Dortmund)
	'Nano Orchard' other amazing nanotechnology images (Image on the left courtesy of the Materials Research Society Science as Art Competition and Josep Nogues, Institut Catala de Nanociencia i Nanotecnologia (ICN2), Spain, and A. Varea, E. Pellicer, S. Suriñach, M.D. Baro, J. Sort, Univ. Autonoma de Barcelona)