Nanoartography image of the month
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​Each month an image from the past NanoArtography finalists will be selected. The image of the month will be shown on the NanoArtograhy webpage and its Facebook page. Check back every month to see if your image is selected!
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Nominate your favorite image to be considered for the Image of the Month:
How to nominate? Send your nominations to Prof. Anasori​, Purdue University, with a nomination sentence to explain why the image should be considered for the suggested month. You can nominate only a previous NanoArtography finalist.
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Congratulations to all!
April 2025
MAXsteroid
Marley Downes, Benj Chacon & Yury Gogotsi
Drexel University, USA
Material: Metals and carbon (in the form of ternary carbide, titanium aluminum carbide)
Image size: The image width is 0.013 mm
NanoArtography 2024 Honorable Mention
Image description by the scientist/artist:
The growth of this MAX phase is out of this world! While MAX phases typically crystallize in hexagonal geometries, this "MAXsteroid" has grown in a triangular pattern as the first step in forming a hexagonal structure.
MarcH 2025
Glowing Seashells: A Mirror into Your Heart and Soul
Oindrila Gupta
New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA
Material: Carbon (in the form of graphene oxide) and a polymer (mainly carbon and hydrogen)
Image size: The image width is 0.021 mm
NanoArtography 2020 Finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
Glowing seashells light up in the dark, have several healing properties, and help to reveal the inner truth of one's aspirations, ambitions, and desires. The image has a striking resemblance to florescent seashells and depicts graphene oxide coating on a polymeric membrane surface used for desalination as well as in organic solvent separation.
February 2025
Titanium Petals of Creation
Austin Vorhees & Ken Aldren Usman
Purdue University, USA & Deakin University, Australia
Material: titanium carbide
Image size: The image width is 0.09 mm
NanoArtography 2024 Honorable Mention
Image description by the scientist/artist:
This vibrant image captures an additive-free liquid crystalline MXene fiber, meticulously formed through wet spinning and elegantly colored to resemble a rose in bloom. This creation is not simply a scientific achievement but a manifestation of love and beauty brought forth by the creative force of human will in harmony with the universe's infinite possibilities. Each delicate petal symbolizes the convergence of discovery and nature's inherent grace, reflecting the profound connection between the act of creation and the elegance found in the natural world.
January 2025
Nanoglaciers
Keerthana Shanmuganathan
Gyeongsang National University, South Korea
Material: carbon and oxygen (graphene oxide) on gold and silicon wafer
Image size: The image width is 0.2 mm
NanoArtography 2024 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
A scanning electron microscope of a broken silicon wafer. A graphene oxide-coated gold-silicon wafer was prepared, and to see the cross-section of the electrode, it was cut with a diamond cutter. The base of the wafer in the cross-sectional image resembles Antarctic glaciers.
December 2024
Holidays 1D Tree-like Nanorods
Afaq Ahmad Khan
CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, India
Material: Copper bismuth sulfide
Image size: The image width is 0.040 mm
NanoArtography 2023 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
The scanning electron micrograph shows dendritic (tree-like) copper bismuth sulfide (Cu3BiS3) nanostructures synthesized using thiourea-based deep-eutectic-solvent by the solvothermal approach.
november 2024
Dead Nano-Tree
Mahshid M. Nejad
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
Material: Cobalt oxide
Image size: The image width is 0.018 mm
NanoArtography 2022 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
The scanning electron micrograph shows cobalt oxide nanotrees synthesized through a simple and green technique called laser ablation synthesis in solution (LASiS) by ablating pure cobalt metal target in ethanol solution. The material can be used as a catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). These materials are hard to synthesize with standard hydrothermal methods.
October 2024
The Devil's Gaze
Juan Luis Fajardo Diaz
Shinshu University, Japan
Material: Carbon (in the form of graphite/graphene)
Image size: The image width is 0.005 mm
NanoArtography 2023 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
Graphene growth on a copper (Cu) substrate through chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a widely used technique, yielding various morphologies due to the introduction of diverse precursors. This often results in the creation of imperfect graphitic layers characterized by broad holes. In the captivating SEM micrograph presented here, we delve into the heart of imperfect graphitic material, where a central void resembles the mysterious eye of an ancient being. But what lies hidden within? Perhaps, just perhaps, it serves as a gateway to an enigmatic and forbidden realm. Dive into the depths of "The Devil's Gaze" and uncover the secrets it guards.
September 2024
Cosmic Voyage: Charting Nanoscopic Oceans of Discovery
Mayank Garg, Heng Guo, Ying Liu, Ravi Jada, and Limei Tian
Texas A&M University, USA
Material: Gold nanorods on a polymer (polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS)
Image size: The image width is 0.11 mm
NanoArtography 2023 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
Embarking on a cosmic quest! Witness the mesmerizing artistry of gold nanorods on a PDMS canvas, a mirror to the enigmatic oceans of distant planets. The dried patterns unveil a celestial lagoon, an incubator of creativity where scientific intrigue nurtures corals and fantastical life. These nanoscale wonders turn the PDMS surface into a sensory frontier.
August 2024
MXene Nanoblossoms
Francisco Lagunas Vargas and Zachary Hood
Argonne National Laboratory, USA
Material: Titanium carbide (MXene)
Image size: The image width is 0.00071 mm
NanoArtography 2023 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
MXene Nanoblossoms are like nature's tiniest, most enchanting flowers, but with a cutting-edge twist. These miniature marvels are cultivated through a fascinating process known as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), resulting in the growth of delicate Ti3C2Cl2 MXene structures that resemble nature's blooms on the nanoscale. Picture this: within the confines of a laboratory, the Ti3C2Cl2 MXene blossoms like a nanoscale garden. But don't be fooled by their fragility; these MXene nanoblossoms possess incredible strength and versatility, promising a future where they may revolutionize energy storage, catalysis, and countless other applications.
July 2024
Fire and Ice
Ken Aldren Usman(a), Kartik Nemani(b), Joselito Razal(a), (a) Deakin University, Australia, (b) Purdue University, USA
Material: Titanium carbide (MXene)
Image size: The image width is 0.2 mm
NanoArtography 2023 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
Introducing the 'Fiber Knot of Fire and Ice'! As the threads dance through a mesmerizing metamorphosis, colors shift from blazing red to icy blue. It is a chromatic journey that ignites the imagination – a knotty tale of contrasting elements woven into a vibrant tapestry of color. A confluence of nature's two immense forces, visualized through a gorgeously twisted MXene-polyacrylic acid composite fiber.
June 2024
Drop of Aperol
Bernardo Cesare
University of Padua, Italy
Material: Aperol
Image size: The image width is 3.5 mm
NanoArtography 2023 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
I like to take photomicrographs of crystallized drops of some popular Italian alcoholic drinks (Aperol, Campari, Limoncello) that I capture with a polarizing microscope. The time taken for crystallization is variable: limoncello is fast, and the first crystals appear after two to three days. Conversely, Aperol didn't show any crystallization for almost two months. Then, one morning, I discovered that most drops had become beautiful aggregates of crystals.
This shot is the view of an entire crystallized drop of Aperol with a full radiating aggregate of sucrose crystals. Crystallization commenced from approximately the center of the drop, and crystals grew projecting outwards. Doing so, they increased in width and thickness. Thickness variations are denoted by the changes of interference color across single crystals.
May 2024
Flowers of the Valley
Stephen Nagaraju Myakala
Technical University of Vienna, Austria
Material: Copper oxide
Image size: The image width is ~0.055 mm
NanoArtography 2023 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
This artwork depicts different flowers represented by the different morphologies of the copper oxide (CuO2) material.
April 2024
MXene Jeobeon Fan
Marley Downes, Mark Anayee, and Yong-Jae Kim
Drexel University, USA
Material: Titanium carbide (2D MXene)
Image size: The image width is ~0.036 mm
NanoArtography 2023 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
This is a scanning electron microscopy image of a multilayer Ti3C2Tx MXene particle that was partially exfoliated by high-shear mixing. The sample was prepared and imaged at KAIST/NNFC in Daejeon, South Korea, during a visit from Philadelphia, USA. The particle resembles a folding fan and has close to the 18 ribs commonly found on traditional Korean fans. The surrounding small particles resemble falling petals from Cherry Blossom trees that blossom in the Spring throughout South Korea and Philadelphia.
MarcH 2024
MXene Caterpie
Nithin Chandran B S and Anupma Thakur
Purdue University, USA
Material: Titanium carbide (2D MXene)
Image size: The image width is ~0.02 mm
NanoArtography 2023 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
This mesmerizing sci-art transforms the intricate world of materials science into whimsical artwork. At its heart lies a multilayered titanium carbide MXene, ingeniously reimagined as the beloved Caterpie from the Pokémon universe. The two-dimensional (2D) Ti3C2Tx MXene layers were formed by selectively etching the aluminum layers from the titanium carbide Ti3AlC2 MAX phase using hydrofluoric (HF) acid. Witness the convergence of innovation and imagination as 'MXene Caterpie' invites you to explore the enchanting world of nanomaterials in a whole new light.
February 2024
Copper Heart
Prastuti Upadhyay and Stefano Ippolito
Drexel University, USA
Material: Copper and titanium carbide (2D MXene)
Image size: The image width is ~0.05 mm
NanoArtography 2023 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
This scanning electron micrograph shows the unique porous nature of Ti3C2/copper hybrid aerogel. The pore shape and size of the aerogel depend on the salt used to synthesize the MXene and the image shows a unique heart-shaped pore observed in the Ti3C2/copper aerogel. Thanks to Dr. Yury Gogotsi, the Drexel Nanomaterials group and the Drexel Materials Characterization Core.​
January 2024
Ice cube: Water phase
Suman Rani, Dhananjaya Panda and Timil Suresh
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India
Material: Sodium zeolite (a mix of sodium oxide, aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide and water).
Image size: The image width is ~1.2mm
NanoArtography 2023 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
The provided visual representation depicts sodium zeolite, a finely powdered material characterized by its white coloration and possessing a crystalline structure that exhibits a cubic symmetry. The substance exhibits a density ranging from 0.40 to 0.48 grams per milliliter. Zeolite exhibits crystalline and microporous forms. The visual representation portrays ice cubes.
December 2023
Silver Xmas Xstallite NanoTree
Gianluca Milano, Irdi Murataj, Luca Boarino
Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Italy
Material: Silver
Image size: The image width is ~0.0075 mm
NanoArtography 2023 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
Silver Xmas Xstallite nanoTree grown by electrodeposition from liquid silver nitrate (AgNO3). At Christmas time, small ions, electrons, atoms, and molecules gather together in magic chemical and physical conditions to form self-assembled decorative nanostructures for the joy of children and people of goodwill.
November 2023
Gasp!!! Fall is Here, but Winter is Near
Gabriel Burks,
Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA
Material: Poly(vinylidene fluoride) PVDF
Image size: The image width is ~0.03 mm.
NanoArtography 2016 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
This image is dedicated to individuals who find themselves at the crossroads of constant change. Society is in perpetual motion, so it is to our advantage to be prepared to adapt to these changes. The scarecrow gasps at the sight of yet another predicted change upon the horizon, but it also knows that its place in the field is crucial for the eventual success of the crop (especially in the midst of the changing environment. So, to all those individuals, be strong in your values, flexible in your ways, and never-ending in your pursuits. Fall is here, but we all know that winter is near!
Scientifically speaking, this image is one of colorized poly(vinylidene fluoride) PVDF crystallites viewed under a scanning electron microscope.
October 2023
MXene Dragon Cave
Anupma Thakur, Nithin Chandran B S, Vaishnavi Kanduri, Bethany Wright
Purdue University, USA
Material: Titanium carbide in 2D form (known as MXene)
Image size: The image width is 0.028 mm.
NanoArtography 2022 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
The artwork depicts a watchful dragon securing her treasures in a MXene cave. She sits atop a sturdy perch and observes the wonderous sights in the bright enclave. Her fiery gold scales contrast strongly against the cool tones of the cave walls. She sits with her mouth open, ready to spit fire at any trespassers that dare to steal her valuable MXene.
September 2023
Sands of SnO
Fernanda da Costa Romeiro, Diego Luiz Tita, and Marcelo Ornaghi Orlandi
Silo Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, Brazil
Material: Tin oxide
Image size: The image width is 0.273 mm.
NanoArtography 2020 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
The world seen through a microscope can reveal beauties as impressive as those of the macro world. The image shows tin oxide (SnO) microstructures prepared via microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The main idea was to associate the SnO microstructures observed in a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), with the sand structures observed in an optical microscope that present different colors and shapes.
August 2023
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Bee Eco-Friendly
Yamini Mittal
CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
Material: Carbon, the beehive-like structure was made by burning leaves and stems of a plant.
Image size: The image width is 0.01 mm.
NanoArtography 2022 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
A beehive-inspired water filter! The scanning electron micrograph represents the transformation of Canna Indica plant waste into biochar through a combustion method. It shows porous beehive-like structure formation, exhibiting excellent wastewater treatment efficiency and significant bioelectricity generation when used as substrate in sustainable constructed wetland integrated microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC) technology. It reflects that “nature harmonizes creation and destruction, containing seeds of its own solution.”
July 2023
The Lonely Island
Gokay Adabasi
University of California, Merced, USA
Material: A mix of several metals, including, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, molybdenum, and tungsten
Image size: The image width is 0.015 mm.
NanoArtography 2022 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
This image of a high-entropy alloy's accumulation ​gives the impression of an undisturbed island in the middle of the ocean that has yet to be set foot. The high-entropy alloy is made of a uniform mixture of several metal elements. The forest-covered green areas in the image are agglomerations, and the color transitions in the ocean represent structures that are homogeneously distributed in the depths. Is not the aim to keep these natural and unique beauties alive before they are set foot on?
June 2023
Rainbow Twist
Marley Downes, Kyle Matthews, Veronika Sedajova
Drexel University, USA
Material: An oxide with a carbide: molybdenum oxide with titanium carbide
Image size: The image width is 0.031 mm.
NanoArtography 2022 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
This image shows a MoO3/Ti3C2 MXene hybrid electrode after cycling. Electrochemistry brings in materials from many different avenues of research, just as this image brings together two different nanomaterials into a "MXene Universe". In this image, the universe is represented on a nanoscale, showing the harmony of science. Thanks to Dr. Yury Gogotsi and Dr. Ekaterina Pomerantseva.
May 2023
The Universe of Nanotechnology
Navid Keshmiri, Amir Hosein Ahmadian Hoseini, and Parisa Najmi
University of British Columbia – Okanagan, Canada
Material: Polystyrene (PS) beads with carbon nanotubes
Image size: The width of the image is 0.055 mm.
NanoArtography 2022 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
This image illustrates an assembly of polystyrene (PS) beads and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The PS beads were synthesized through an emulsion-evaporation process. The PS beads and CNTs were dispersed in deionized water in a bath sonicator and then vacuum-filtered. This technique was used to make a polymer nanocomposite with a segregated structure featuring high electrical conductivity for electromagnetic wave shielding applications.
April 2023
The Floral Miracle
Jasafa Showket, N. Rahul, and Soumyadip Sett.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Gandhinagar, India.
Material: Copper oxide on copper
Image size: The width of the image is 0.023 mm.
NanoArtography 2022 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
These beautiful nano florets are decorated on the copper surface after oxidation in a caustic solution. Different floral forms in this image (roses, marigolds and grass-like structures) are because of various reaction conditions and reagents used here. These surface textures are crucial for controlling wettability on metal surfaces. After a hydrophobic functionalization, this textured copper oxide surface yields a highly water-repellant surface that has different applications, including in thermal industries. This image shows the combined floral architecture of the copper oxide surface with roses and marigolds at distinct locations within the grass-like structures, creating a majestic garden look.
March 2023
PDMS Herbs in the Frosty Daybreak
Pritam Roy
Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e. V., Dresden, Germany
Material: Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, which is a silicon elastomer)
Image size: The width of the image is 0.007 mm.
NanoArtography 2022 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
The optical microscopic image represents the meso-structures on a soft PDMS thin film, which resemble the fractal branches of a herb. It originated from the compressive stresses on the soft PDMS thin film. This image proves a point that sometimes the right amount of stress (struggle) can produce beautiful things against a mighty opposition and in unfavorable conditions.
February 2023
Heart of the Volcano
Bernardo Cesare
Geosciences Department, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
Material: Silicate minerals
Image size: The width of the image is 5.3 mm.
NanoArtography 2022 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
This is a microscopic photo of a thin section of lava from Lipari (Italy) that erupted about 105 thousand years ago. This photo of lava contains fragments of crystal rocks that got so hot that they melted. Scientists study these to understand the origin of granites. The image shows an aggregate (glomerocryst) of plagioclase and pyroxene (two rock-forming silicates), which resemble a colorful heart. It is true; even a rock has a heart! This is a polarized light photomicrograph of a 30 µm thick sample (geological "thin section“).
January 2023
Mount MXene
Grace Cooksley
University of Brighton, UK
Material: titanium carbide MXene
Image size: The width of the image is 0.02 mm.
NanoArtography 2022 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
This artwork was created by preparing a free-standing film of titanium carbide MXene and tearing the film into smaller fragments to show a cross-section of the multi-layer and delaminated flakes. The non-uniform breaking of the MXene film produced sharp edges which looked like mountain peaks. A snowy mountain scene is depicted to symbolize the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of MXenes to many disciplines since its discovery, much like the pioneering climbers who first climbed Mt. Everest.
December 2022
Winter is Coming
Tetiana Hryhorchuk, Teng Zhang, and Mohit Saraf
Drexel University, USA
Material: Vanadium oxide
Image size: The width of the image is 0.013 mm.
NanoArtography 2022 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
The cross-sectional SEM image of the modified vanadium oxide electrode was altered using Procreate software to reflect the growing field of sustainable electrochemical energy research. The work was supervised by Prof. Ekaterina Pomerantseva and Prof. Yury Gogotsi.
November 2022
Vanadium Oxide Leaves
Mallory Clites
Drexel University, USA
Material: Vanadium oxide
Image size: The width of the image is 0.03 mm.
NanoArtography 2017 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
Bilayered vanadium oxide has a flexible layered crystal structure that allows for the intercalation of various ions and molecules. In this image, a large, positively-charged organic molecule, cetyltrimethyl ammonium, has been inserted into the space between vanadium oxide layers. After synthesis, the vanadium oxide forms thick nanobelts that wrap together tightly to form the shape of petals or leaves, resulting in the design shown.
October 2022
Eyeballs
Shivam Kumar Dwivedi and Abishek M.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, India
Material: Several eyeball images combined with a microscopic image
Image size: The width of the outer part of the image is 0.035 mm.
NanoArtography 2021 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
Quantum mechanics allows the calculation of properties and behavior of physical systems. It is typically applied to microscopic systems: molecules, atoms, and sub-atomic particles. Its application to the universe as a whole remains speculative. This image shows infinite eyeballs into each other under the quantum mechanics size range where numbers do not have specific importance. They contain a nano world in themselves. This image is a combination of many microscopic images.
September 2022
Peptide Systems Chemistry under AFM
Charalampos (Babis) Pappas
University of Freiburg, Germany
Material: Peptide, amino acids.
Image size: The image width is 0.0005 mm.
NanoArtography 2021 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
This atomic force microscopy (AFM) image represents an example of a systems chemistry approach towards
spontaneous and selective peptide oligomerization in water. Using a mixture of interconverting molecules and
through an interplay with non-covalent interactions, activated amino acids are competing for "food sources" and
selected based on their self-assembly propensity. The image width is 0.0005 mm.
August 2022
Nano Beach
Parvin Fathi-Hafshejani and Adib Taba
AuburnUniversity, AL, USA
Material: Molybdenum disulfide.
Image size: The image width is 0.254 mm.
NanoArtography 2021 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
The layered nanomaterial world not only resembles everyday wonders but also contributes in a big way from its tiny world. The image shows molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nano/microstructures prepared with laser processing (the jungle) and without laser processing (the beach). The main idea was to connect the real world with the nanomaterial world observed in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and how we can engineer nanostructures.
July 2022
The Iridescent Colors of Seabed
Jacopo Profili and Williams Marcel Caceres Ferreira
Université Laval- Chu de Québec, Canada
Material: Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), made of carbon and fluorine atoms.
Image size: The image width is 0.297 mm.
NanoArtography 2021 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
The image shows the aspects of a modified endovascular prosthesis made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). A surface modification is carried out with an ionized gas, called plasma, to improve biocompatibility and long-term stability. In this image, the ionized wind from the plasma is reflected on the surface like the iridescent colors of the seabed.
June 2022
A Better World
Enio Longo
CDMF/FAPESP, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Material: Organic fibers covered with silver silica nanoparticles.
Image size: The image width is about 0.5 mm.
NanoArtography 2021 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
In life, protection against the virus represents love, union, longing, affection, health, and meeting friends and relatives. The protection of these nanoparticles reflects the beauty and joy of a better world. Protection is security, tranquility, and health. In this development, the silica-Ag composite eliminates 99.98% of coronavirus.
May 2022
Gerbera Flower
Ricardo Tranquilin
Federal University of Sao Carlos, Brazil
Material: Strontium Tungstate (SrWO4)
Image size: The image width is about 0.01 mm.
NanoArtography 2016 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
The general idea of this work is the association of nature with microscopic images, both in their shapes and colors, so it is possible to converge the microscopic world to the everyday world, so we can show that this small world works with the same forms of the macro world. Also, taking a special look at the images that exhibit abstract forms. The image was obtained through Field Emission Gun – Scanning Electron Microscope (FEG – SEM). The material presented in this image is strontium tungstate.
April 2022
A Carbon-based World
Suela Kellici, Zhen Lu, and Ioan-Alexandru Baragau
London South Bank University, London, UK
Material: Carbon (the planet is made of thousands of nanoscale carbon particles)
Image size: The image width is about 0.01 mm.
NanoArtography 2020 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
Using an eco-friendly, rapid synthetic approach (within fractions of a second), the Continuous Hydrothermal Flow Synthesis Nano2D Group has synthesized a series of carbon-based materials derived from biomass precursors. The SEM image represents a freeze-dried carbon quantum dots (CQDs) material made from thousands of agglomerated CQDs particles. The shape looks like a possible exoplanet planet, able to sustain life.
March 2022
Phoenix Bird
Yana Suchikova and Serhiy Kovachov
Berdyansk State Pedagogical University, Ukraine
Material: Indium phosphide
Image size: The image width is about 0.1 mm.
NanoArtography 2021 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
The crystallites are formed on the surface defects of monocrystalline indium phosphide throughout electrochemical etching similar to the Phoenix Bird cyclically rising from its ashes. The crystallites are densely packed at an angle to the crystal surface being formed along the dislocation outcrop. Such dislocation outcrop during single-crystal etching allows reducing the excessive stress typical of high-alloy single-crystal semiconductors. The image was colorized using Adobe Photoshop.
February 2022
Carbon NanoHeart Nested on Frozen Sulfur
Eleonora Venezia and Luca De Trizio
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Italy
Material: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and sulfur
Image size: The image width is 0.4 mm.
NanoArtography 2021 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
The image shows a sulfur-carbon composite material employed in lithium-sulfur battery systems. During the active material synthesis, the carbon nanotubes, instead of blending in with sulfur, aggregated into a fluffy furry heart surrounded by a frozen sulfur lake.
January 2022
Prehistoric Copper
Nicole Overman, Xiao Li, and Glenn Grant
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA, USA
Material: Copper powder
Image size: The image width is 0.06 mm.
NanoArtography 2020 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
This image shows the morphology of electrolytically produced copper powder.
DecembeR 2021
The Snow Has Fallen Over the Pine Forest
Andreia Sofia Santana dos Santos,
Associaco Almascience - lnvestigacao e Desenvolvimento em Celulose para Aplicacoes lnteligentes e Sustentaveis (ALMASCIENCE), Portugal
Material: Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microstructure covered with silver nanoparticles
Image size: N/A
NanoArtography 2021 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
This image shows a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micro-structured film covered with the ink of silver particles. The microstructuring was achieved by using laser engraving equipment to produce a mold in an acrylic substrate and then using the mold in a soft-lithography process. The ink was spread over the structures by spin-coating. These films have been employed in e-skin like piezoresistive sensors, resistive temperature sensors, and even energy harvesters.
November 2021
Ti3CN Antelope Canyon
Kanit Hantanasirisakul, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Material: Titanium carbonitride MXene
Image size: The width of the “cliff” on the right-hand side is ~ 0.02 mm.
NanoArtography 2016 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
The curved structure presented in the picture is a porous Ti3CN Mxene. The width of the “cliff” on the right-hand side of the picture is approximately 0.02 mm (20 microns). The author tries to match the MXene microporous structure with the Antelope Canyon in Nevada. MXene and antelope do have something in common in the sense that they are made from soil (clay for MXene).
October 2021
Cobalt Oxide Web of Neurotransmitters
Kampara Roopa Kishore, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, India
Material: Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) - cobalt oxide
Image size: The image width is 0.075 mm.
NanoArtography 2020 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
The image shows electrospun biomimetic polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) - cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanofibers as human brain neurotransmitters. PVA and cobalt (II) chloride hexahydrate were used for the synthesize of PVA-Co3O4 nanofibers by electrospinning technique, which resembles human brain neurons.
The interconnection of nanofibers looks like the nucleus of a neuron and the elongated nanofiber morphology replicates the axon of the neuron. PVA-Co3O4 nanofibers with a high surface area to volume ratio had many applications in gas sensors, catalysis, fuel cells, and energy storage applications. These PVA-Co3O4 nanofibers had shown good vapor sensing response towards methanol vapor, for the concentration ranging from 21 ppm to 2094 ppm at 350 °C operating temperature. PVA-Co3O4 nanofibers were characterized by a field emission scanning electron microscope.
September 2021
Autumn Leaves of Carbon Nanotubes
Juan Luis Fajardo Díaz, San Luis Potosí Institute of Scientific Research and Technology, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
Material: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)
Image size: The image width is 0.11 mm.
NanoArtography 2020 Finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist:
This image illustrates carbon nanotubes (CNTs) formation that resembles a leaves interaction like the fallen leaves of a tree. The combination of colors like dark green, yellow, and red simulating colors of autumn leaves fit very well with the spatial distribution, curved sections, hills, and structure obtained from the CNT.
These CNTs grew over a Co-Cu thin film in a chemical vapor deposition system. The combination of a sulfonated and oxygenated precursor, temperature variation, reductive atmosphere, and time of synthesis modifies the growth mechanism of Co nanoparticles. It creates very short and thin CNTs that agglomerates and display these peculiar patterns over the sample. This effect is probably associated with a specific decomposition process of the sulfonated and oxygenated precursor and the interaction with Co and Cu catalysts.
August 2021
Microcosmos
Steven Boeynaems, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
Material: Proteins from egg white and milk powder
Image size: Droplets are a few mm in size.
NanoArtography 2020 Winner
Image description by the scientist/artist:
An artist’s impression of the cellular microcosmos. Dive into a galaxy of liquid stars and protein nebulas:
Protein phase separation constitutes a key process by which life has evolved on Earth. From the origins of Life itself to cellular subcompartmentalization, phase separation of biomolecules has recently been proven essential to our understanding of these processes. In this series, I present an "artist's impression" of phase separation. By using only reagents and chemicals found in the lab, supplemented with proteins from egg white and milk powder, I try to recreate the phenomenal complexity and beauty of this process. We see the formation of liquid droplets, which fuse and mix together creating complex and unanticipated hues and tones. Protein aggregation, notoriously implicated in human disease, is now repurposed to create fantastic nebulas and clouds of precipitated biological matter. Just like our cells, these artworks are dynamic and ever-evolving.
July 2021
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Nano Lord Voldemort
Armin VahidMohammadi, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
Material: 2D Ti2C MXene
Image size: The image width is ~ 0.008 mm.
NanoArtography 2016 Finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist: SEM image of the stacked nanosheets of Ti2C MXene material, representing the face of Lord Voldemort character in Harry Potter movies. Ti2C MXene material is synthesized by selective etching of the Al atoms from Ti2AlC MAX phase and is a promising material for energy storage devices such as supercapacitors and batteries. The SEM image was taken using JEOL JSM-7000F Scanning Electron Microscope and colored and visualized using computer software without any manipulation to the original image.
June 2021
MXene Coated Yarn Rainbow
Tetiana Hryhorchuk, Ariana Levitt, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Material: 2D metal carbide MXenes on cellulose yarns
Image size: The image width is ~ 0.23 mm.
NanoArtography 2019 Finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist: Scanning electron microscope image of conductive MXene coated synthetic yarn colored using Adobe Photoshop. The image represents the simple things that are most beautiful.
May 2021
Flower and Their Ties
Vitor Anibal do Sacramento Mendes, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Brazil
Material: Leucophyllum flower
Image size: The image width is ~ 1.5 mm.
NanoArtography 2020 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist: Micrograph of the flower of the Leucophyllum frutescens plant, popularly known as silver rain in Brazil.
April 2021
A Crystalline Silver Flower
Jacopo Profili, Université Laval- Chu de Québec, Québec city, Canada
Material: Silver nanoparticles on a silicon substrate
Image size: The image width is ~ 0.1 mm.
NanoArtography 2020 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist: A thin and delicate layer of silver nanoparticles has been shaken by ionized gas. This energetic gas strongly interacts with the surface and modifies the fabric of the matter. As a result, the spheres change their shape and slow growth to form sharp structures well distributed on the surface. These poetic flowers spread over the silicon surface like fragile emerald crystals. Here, by using scanning electron microscopy, we discover the beautiful organization of these tiny particles on a purple carpet.
March 2021
The Lost Flower of Snegurochka (“Snow Maiden”)
Rajashree Konar and Gilbert Daniel Nessim, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
Material: Silver sulfide
Image size: The image width is ~ 0.02 mm.
NanoArtography 2019 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist: The flowers are of silver sulfide synthesized using an atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD). The microstructure has unique flowers growing at the tip of the hollows.
February 2021
Bismuth heart
Wei Sun, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
Material: Bismuth nanoparticles
Image size: The image width is ~ 0.01 mm.
NanoArtography 2017 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist: Randomly assembled bismuth nanoparticles formed a heart shape during the drying process. Because of the heart-like shape, we colorized the bismuth nanoparticles red.
January 2021
Mysterious Night at Rocky Mountain
Ulugbek Shaislamov, Jeju National University, South Korea
Material: Copper nanorods
Image size: The image width is 0.55 mm.
NanoArtography 2017 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist: Presented vertically aligned nanostructures are copper nanorod arrays that were prepared by the template-based electrodeposition method. The irregular height of the nanorods resembles a mountain that is lit by moonlight at mysterious night.
December 2020
Zinc Oxide Moon
J. A. Allen, J. Aarthy Tagore, M. Manoj Prabhakar, C. Viswanathan, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Material: Zinc oxide
Image size: The diameter of the zinc oxide moon is 0.012 mm
NanoArtography 2019 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist: Zinc Oxide Moon is synthesized using the hydrothermal method. It is a dense microsphere composed of irregular nanosheets. In dark, zinc oxide moon illuminates.
November 2020
Crystal Harvest
Sarah Gleeson, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Material: Calcium phosphate
Image size: The width of the image is ~0.008 mm
NanoArtography 2019 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist: Calcium phosphate mineral grows into large, plate-like sheets from the polymer substrate it was deposited onto. These flat, jagged crystalline sheets grow outwards surrounding a center of smaller mineral crystals. This image was captured by a scanning electron microscope.
October 2020
Hellfire
Jizhen Zhang, Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
Material: 2D nano titanium carbide (Ti3C2 MXene)
Image size: The width of the image is ~0.2 mm
NanoArtography 2018 winner
Image description by the scientist/artist: The image represents a cross-section of MXene (Ti3C2Tx) aerogel film prepared by the freeze-drying approach being developed by our research group. The combination of MXene flakes and porous forms flame-like architecture. The MXene aerogel film with highly aligned MXene flakes and connected interspace enable high rate charge and discharge for energy storage applications. This image was captured by a scanning electron microscope.
September 2020
Copper on Carbon Fiber
Amir Masoud Pourrahimi, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Fibre and Polymer Technology, Sweden
Material: Copper superstructures on carbon fiber
Image size: The width of the image is ~0.01mm
NanoArtography 2017 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist: The scanning electron micrograph of copper superstructures on carbon fiber, which are synthesized by electrodeposition. The conductive and high surface-area-to-volume carbon fibers were here used as a substrate for the deposition of copper metals. The deposited copper hierarchical superstructures were assembled from intersecting nano-sheets, resulting in a grid-like morphology. The pores located between the nano-sheets (10-50 nm) resulted in high porosity and specific surface area.
August 2020
Lord of the Rings
Nina Tarnowicz, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Poland
Material: SCdSe/CdS nanoparticles on a PVA-coated substrate
Image size: Image width is ~ 0.87 mm
NanoArtography 2017 finalist
Image description by the scientist/artist: Image presents aggregates of CdSe/CdS nanoparticles (quantum dots, dot in a rod type) on a PVA-coated substrate, poured with popular nematic liquid crystal - MBBA. Skipping the whole scientific side of the image, it reminds me of the Middle-earth and the inscription on the One Ring written with Elvish letters (tengwar). One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
July 2020
The Starry Night under TEM (Evolution of peptide nanostructures)
Charalampos Pappas, Advanced Science Research Center, City University of New York, USA
Material: Supramolecular peptide nanostructures
Image size: Image width is ~ 0.001 mm (1 µm)
NanoArtography 2017, second place winner
Image description: This transmission electron microscope (TEM) image represents an example of a supramolecular peptide nanostructure that was discovered using a dynamic peptide library approach, where peptide sequences are dynamically exchanged, giving rise to a competition of sequences and resulting in the spontaneous selection and formation of stable self-assembling nanostructures.
JUNE 2020
Mary and Yamada’s Concrete Rose
Gabriel Burks, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA
Material: Poly(vinylidene fluoride) PVDF hedrite agglomerates
Image size: Image width is ~ 0.02 mm (20 µm)
NanoArtography 2016 finalist
Image description: ln homage to the late Tupac Shakur's "The Rose that Grew from Concrete," this image is dedicated to all the beautiful things that manifest as the result of great struggle, tremendous opposition, and less than optimal conditions. This rose garden is for the dreamer that wants to desperately escape from their current plight into a place where anything is possible and where dreams really do come true. I find this theme to be particularly relevant given today's set of current events where underrepresented minorities in the United States of America find themselves at a crossroads between patriotism and civil human rights. It is sad to say that in the 21st century human beings are slain by law enforcement like wild animals, but just as the rose grew from concrete, this situation will also bear a beautiful and inspiring miracle.
Scientifically speaking, this image is one of colorized Poly(vinylidene fluoride) PVDF hedrite agglomerates viewed under a scanning electron microscope.
May 2020
