Highest Resolution Achieved Through 3D Imaging Tool Using Nanomaterials

New materials built through a process known as bottom-up nanofabrication, or self-assembly from designing new biomaterials to novel photonic devices, have opened up pathways to new technologies with properties adjusted at the nanoscale.

Nevertheless, a Phys.org report specified that to unlock the possibility of these new materials fully, researchers need to "see" into their small creations to regulate the design and fabrication to allow the desired properties of the material.

This has been a multifaceted challenge that scientists from the United States Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory and Columbia University have, for the first time, overcome by imaging the inside of a novel material self-assembled from nanoparticles with the seven-nanometer resolution, roughly 1/100,000 of a human hair's width.

In the research published in early April, the study authors revealed the power of their new high-resolution X-ray imaging approach to show the inner construction of the nanomaterial.

Use of DNA

The research team designed the new nanomaterial through DNA as a programmable construction material, which allows them to develop novel engineered materials for catalysis, optics, and extreme environments.

While in the materials' creation process, the different building blocks made of DNA and particles shift into place on their own, according to a defined blueprint known as a "template," which the study investigators designed.

Nonetheless, to image and exponent such small structures with X-rays, the study authors needed to convert them into inorganic materials that could endure X-rays while offering useful functionality. For the first time, the scientists could see the details, which included the imperfections within their newly arranged nanomaterials.

Researchers of the study published in the Science journal may have reached such an impressive milestone, but they are far from over. They have already set their sights on the succeeding steps to push further the boundaries of the possible.

Plan to Design More Complicated Nanomaterials

According to Hanfei Yan, a corresponding author of the study, now that they have gone through the data analysis process, they are planning to make this part simpler and faster for future projects, specifically when further beamline enhancements allow for the even faster collection of data.

Yan elaborated that such an analysis is presently the bottleneck when doing high-resolution tomography work. On the other hand, Gang added that other than continuing to push the performance of the beamline, there is also a plan of using a new approach to dive deeper into the association between defects and properties of the materials.

There is also a plan for designing more complicated nanomaterials through DNA self-assembly that can be examined through the use of HXN, a similar ScienceDaily report specified.

In this manner, one can see how well the structure is developed internally and link this to the process of assembly. They are currently developing a new bottom-up fabrication platform that would not be able to image minus the new capability.

Lastly, by understanding such a link between properties of the material for future applications in designed nanomaterials for catalysts and batteries, for light manipulation, and desired mechanical reactions.

Related information about nanomaterials is shown on MVA Scientific Consultants' YouTube video below:

Check out more news and information on Nanotechnology in Science Times.