Ready for your close-up?

These images were all taken by Trinity nanoscience research institute Crann – but what are they?

Cobalt leaf

A cobalt structure taken on the Scanning Electron Microscope at Crann’s Advanced Microscopy Laboratory. Cobalt is a magnetic transition metal. Controlling its properties on the nanoscale could lead to more effective data storage and sensing devices, and improved nano-particles for nano-medical applications.

Gecko

Tiny hairs ( setae) of a gecko's foot, which have been artificially coloured. These are about 100 nanometres wide – about 500 times thinner than human hair. They maximise the surface area of the foot, allowing geckos to adhere to smooth surfaces such as polished glass. The design has inspired research into advanced dry adhesives using materials such as carbon nanotubes.

Light bulb

Tungsten filament of a burnt-out light bulb. The image was taken with the Helium Ion Microscope, which enables resolution of less than one nanometre. It is the only such tool in Ireland and one of only a dozen in the world.

Despina’s cells

An image of a human ovarian cancer cell “encapsulated” by platelets, which was taken on Crann’s Helium Ion Microscope.

Ronan’s microspheres

Image of silicon dioxide spheres sitting on a porous film, taken using the Scanning Electron Microscope. The ability to control pore shape and size at these dimensions could have uses in areas such as cell culture, photonic materials, drug delivery and filtration.

Seawater being filtered

This image was taken using Crann’s Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM).

This tool has the highest resolution of its kind in Europe.