INDEX TO IMAGES: Most images were taken from the MRS (Materials Research Society) "Science As Art" competition for 2006. More information may be found on the MRS web site at www.mrs.org.
A: (background image) A color enhanced scanning electron micrograph
of ZnO grown in aqueous solution by homogeneous precipitation. The crystal
morphology of the zinc oxide was controlled by using a sequential nucleation
and growth process in which simple morphology crystals were grown and then
subjected to further growth in the presence of different growth modifiers.
(Magnification: 15,000x)
Credit: Tom Sounart, Bonnie McKenzie, Jun Liu, and Jim Voigt, Sandia National
Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
B: Zinc dendritic structures formed by electrodeposition on Cu substrates
using a mixed solution of ZnO powders and NaOH at room temperature. The Cu
substrate was pretreated to form a layer of nanowires before it was used to
form the Zn dendritic structures. Various forms of nanostructures can be formed
by controlling the electroplating conditions. (Magnification: 1,300x)
Credit: Yihong Wu, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National
University of Singapore, Singapore
C: Two-dimensional carbon nanostructures grown on a Ga droplet using microwave-enhanced
chemical vapor deposition. The orientation of the curved nanosheets is determined
by the local electrical field direction. (Magnification: 13,000x)
Credit: Yihong Wu, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National
University of Singapore, Singapore
D: Ice crystal formation on leaves in still air. This photo was taken just outside Rogers Hall in December 2005. Notice the similarity between these ice crystals and the other microstructures illustrated.
E: Optical micrograph of a binary alloy of Cu-42w% Zn, sand cast, annealed at 800 degrees C for 1 hour, followed by a furnace cool to room temperature (Magnification 50x). The two-phase microstructure has grown from a metastable single phase solid solution. Photograph prepared in the ME582 metallurgy lab project, 2006.