Materials Science Collection (page 2)

Solar cell C018 / 6396
Solar (photovoltaic) cell, which converts light into electrical energy. The cell is made from silicon (blue), a semi-conductor

Solar cell C018 / 6388
Computer enhanced image of a solar (photovoltaic) cell, which converts light into electrical energy. The cell is made from silicon (blue), a semi-conductor

Solar cell, monocrystalline, Micrograph C018 / 6392
Solar cell. Light micrograph taken with episcopic lighting and Normarski Interference Contrast (DIC) of of a high performance solar cell made from a monocrystalline silicon wafer

Mining ore, 16th century C017 / 6994
Mining ore. 16th-century woodcut showing a miner pushing a cart full of ore out of a cave. This artwork is from Aepitoma omnis phylosophiae (1504) by the German author Georg Reisch (c.1467-1525)

Gecko foot C014 / 0963
Gecko foot. Close-up of the foot of a southern turniptail gecko (Thecadactylus solimoensis), showing the adhesive lamellae (ridges)

Micrography metallurgy analysis, 1937 C014 / 0466
Micrography metallurgy analysis. Researcher in the 1930s using a new photomicrograph design (right) to analyse the structural effect of corrosion on metals (left) used in aircraft construction

Non-woven textile fibres, SEM C014 / 4739
Non-woven textile fibres. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) showing the structure of fibres within a non-woven fabric. Magnification: x125 when printed 10 cm wide

Loft insulation. The loft or attic space in a house is frequently left unheated, and so insulation is needed at this point to reduce heat loss from the heated area below

Airbus A350 XWB wing manufacturing. Engineers working on a component that forms part of the trailing edge of a wing on the new Airbus A350 XWB

Filter, SEM C014 / 4734
Filter. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) showing the interwoven fibres of a 50 nanometre filter. Magnification: x250 when printed 10 cm wide

Silicon wafer production, artwork
Silicon wafer production. Cutaway artwork showing the apparatus used to polish silicon wafers. Silicon used in microchips needs to be precisely engineered for structure and purity

Non-woven textile fibres, SEM C014 / 4738
Non-woven textile fibres. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) showing the structure of fibres within a non-woven fabric. Magnification: x75 when printed 10 cm wide

Structural reinforcement of building
Steel tie-rod-and-plate assemblies installed on masonry of the dilapidated 18th century Baroque Palazzo Bongiovanni in Syracuse, Sicily

Float-zone silicon crystal growth
Silicon crystal growth. Artwork showing the float-zone process used to grow silicon crystals, an alternative to the Czochralski process (C014/7163)

Aerogel C014 / 0742
Aerogel. Aerogel, or frozen smoke, is a synthetic silicon-based material derived from a gel, in which the liquid component of the gel has been replaced with a gas

Polystyrene foam, SEM C016 / 8049
Polystyrene foam. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a section through a block of extruded polystyrene foam, showing the internal closed-cell air spaces

Polystyrene foam, SEM C016 / 8048
Polystyrene foam. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a section through a block of extruded polystyrene foam, showing the internal closed-cell air spaces

Polystyrene foam, SEM C016 / 8044
Polystyrene foam. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a section through a block of extruded polystyrene foam, showing the internal closed-cell air spaces

Polystyrene foam, SEM C016 / 8047
Polystyrene foam. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a section through a block of extruded polystyrene foam, showing the internal closed-cell air spaces

Polystyrene foam, SEM C016 / 8046
Polystyrene foam. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a section through a block of extruded polystyrene foam, showing the internal closed-cell air spaces

Imitation honeycomb filling C014 / 0293
Imitation honeycomb filling. Close-up of a acrylic tubes assembled to mimic the honeycomb structure of bee hives. The honeycomb structure offers great strength to weight ratio

Imitation honeycomb C014 / 0294
Imitation honeycomb. Section of material with a design based on the honeycomb structure of bee hives. This structure gives the material great strength whilst keeping its weight to a minimum

Imitation honeycomb filling C014 / 0291
Imitation honeycomb filling. Close-up of a section through acrylic tubes assembled to mimic the honeycomb structure of bee hives. The honeycomb structure offers great strength to weight ratio

Imitation honeycomb filling C014 / 0292
Imitation honeycomb filling. Close-up of a acrylic tubes assembled to mimic the honeycomb structure of bee hives. The honeycomb structure offers great strength to weight ratio

Imitation honeycomb filling C014 / 0290
Imitation honeycomb filling. Top down view of acrylic tubes assembled to mimic the honeycomb structure of bee hives. The honeycomb structure offers great strength to weight ratio

Imitation skin C014 / 0286
Imitation skin. Close-up of the surface of a latex material designed to mimic the look and feel of human skin. The skin is made by SkinBag and is used for fashion clothing and accessories

Artificial pebbles C014 / 0283
Artificial pebbles. Close-up of a building material (left) made to resemble pebbles (right)

Iridescence C014 / 0284
Iridescence. Butterfly with iridescent wings on a surface coated with iridescent material. Iridescence is caused by the tiny microstructures of the surface reflecting light in different ways

Artificial mould C014 / 0281
Artificial mould. Close-up of material designed to resemble mould (fungus). This material is used for decorative flocking effects on material surfaces

3D printed objects C014 / 0280
3D printed object. Intricately designed objects made using the process of stereolithography. Stereolithography (or optical fabrication) is an additive manufacturing (3D printing)

3D printed objects C014 / 0279
3D printed objects. Pendants made using the process of stereolithography. Stereolithography (or optical fabrication) is an additive manufacturing (3D printing) technology used for producing models

3D printed chain mail C014 / 0276
3D printed chain mail. Section of intricately designed chainmail-like material made using the process of stereolithography

Plant-based insulating materials C014 / 0322
Plant-based insulating materials. Close-up of two different insulating materials made from plant products; one made from compressed dried algae (top) and the other made from soya (Glycine max)

3D printed object C014 / 0273
3D printed object. Intricate pendant made using the process of stereolithography. Stereolithography (or optical fabrication) is an additive manufacturing (3D printing)

3D printed chain mail C014 / 0272
3D printed chain mail. Close-up of chainmail material made using the process of stereolithography. Stereolithography (or optical fabrication) is an additive manufacturing (3D printing)

Imitation snake skin fabric C014 / 0269
Imitation snake skin fabric. This imitation snakeskin pattern is made from array of optical tiles. Each optical tile is a beveled, cylindrical pixel with an angled surface that reflects a particular

Hook and loop fastener C014 / 0321
Hook and loop fastener. Close-up of a hook and loop fastener showing the hooks (right) clinging to the loops (left). These common fasteners were inspired by the prickly burrs used by some plants to

Shark-skin-inspired antibacterial surface. Close-up of Sharklet an antibacterial material whose surface structure was inspired by the microstructures found on the surface of shark skin

Artificial gecko feet adhesive C014 / 0313
Artificial gecko feet adhesive. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) showing the surface of a material that uses a similar structure to that of a geckos foot

Mother of pearl fabric C014 / 0316
Mother of pearl fabric. Close-up of a fabric (left) made using strips of mother of pearl, next to a pearly seashell (right), the source of mother of pearl

Fabric inspired by pine cones C014 / 0308
Fabric inspired by pine cones. Close-up of the surface of a climate-sensitive fabric that reacts to temperature and humidity in a similar manner to that of pines cones

Shock absorbing fabric C014 / 0300
Shock absorbing fabric. Close-up of a human hand casting a shadow on the rear of a sample of shock-absorbing fabric

Gecko foot C014 / 0258
Gecko foot. Close-up of the foot of a New Caledonian crested gecko (Rhacodactylus ciliatus), showing the adhesive lamellae (ridges)

Fig tree fabric C014 / 0234
Fig tree fabric. Close-up of fabric made using bark from an African fig (Ficus natalensis) tree. The fabric, known as barkcloth, uses bark from trees grown in Uganda

Hydrophobic paint C014 / 0237
Hydrophobic paint. Close-up of a surface coated in paint that repels water (hydrophobic). This paint has been developed by studying and replicating structures found in nature

Salmon skin leather C014 / 0235
Salmon skin leather. Close-up of leather formed from the skin of a salmon. This eco-friendly product uses discarded skin from the commercial fishing industry

Hydrophobic paint C014 / 0236
Hydrophobic paint. Close-up of a surface coated in paint that repels water (hydrophobic). This paint has been developed by studying and replicating structures found in nature

Fig tree fabric C014 / 0232
Fig tree fabric. Close-up of fabric made using bark from an African fig (Ficus natalensis) tree. The fabric, known as barkcloth, uses bark from trees grown in Uganda

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"Exploring the Fascinating World of Materials Science: From Woven Fabric to Nanotube Technology" a captivating field that delves into the intricate properties and applications of various substances. One such example is woven fabric, which showcases the artistry and functionality achieved through intertwining threads. With cutting-edge techniques like scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scientists can unravel the hidden structures within these fabrics, unlocking new possibilities for innovation. Nanotube technology takes materials science to another level by harnessing the power of tiny carbon cylinders. These nanotubes possess exceptional strength and conductivity, paving the way for advancements in electronics, medicine, and energy storage. Conceptual artwork visualizes their potential impact on our future. Looking back at history, we find intriguing artifacts like a 1952 DuPont advertisement featuring a nylon comb. This relic reminds us how materials have evolved over time, with DuPont's innovative approach shaping everyday objects we often take for granted. Microscopic images captured through SEM reveal astonishing details about hooks and loops fasteners—a testament to meticulous engineering behind Velcro-like closures that revolutionized industries from fashion to aerospace. The discovery of buckyball molecules opened up new frontiers in materials science. These soccer ball-shaped carbon structures exhibit extraordinary strength while offering exciting prospects in drug delivery systems or even as building blocks for advanced nanotechnology. Charcoal has long been used as an essential material due to its unique properties—absorption capabilities make it ideal for purifying air or water sources. Raman laser spectroscopy enables researchers to study charcoal's molecular composition further—uncovering its potential beyond traditional uses. X-ray crystallography provides invaluable insights into atomic arrangements within crystals—an indispensable tool in understanding material behavior ranging from minerals to pharmaceutical compounds. FE scanning electron microscopy allows scientists unparalleled resolution when investigating surface features at an atomic scale—an essential technique across diverse fields such as metallurgy or semiconductor research. Scanning transmission electron microscopy offers a deeper understanding of materials by mapping their elemental composition and electronic properties.