A polarized light microscopy view of a mixture of an azobenzene compound and a Phase Change Material. What looks like a stained-glass window or bird feathers is actually the microscopic world of energy storage. Such blends are key to developing "smart" thermal energy storage systems with light-responsive properties.
This image reveals the mosaic-like crystalline domains formed within a mixture of Azobenzene and a Phase Change Material. Using polarized light, the geometric boundaries show where different crystal orientations meet during solidification, showcasing the beautiful complexity found in materials science research
A size label made on the sample by lithography ended up right at the frontier of crystal growth – and happened to match the ICMAB anniversary year! Captured with Olympus BX51 microscope.
Biopharmaceutical particulate material generated by processing with compressed CO2, formulated as a platform for the encapsulation, transport and release of drugs, which resembles an artificial bone in the form of a microparticle.
Multinucleated pancreatic cells on a glass slide; intermediate filaments stained with vimentin (blue), cell nuclei stained with Hoechst (cyan).
Curcuminoid-based crystallised compound deposited onto SiO2 through sublimation. When this sample was analysed under the MO (50x), I could only gawk with awe: the kaleidoscope of green and pink crystals blooms forming a gradient along the picture undeniably evokes the picturesque "Antoni Gaudí" art.
Optical microscopy image of the selective deposition of semiconductor crystals on a chemically modified substrate. The treated regions inhibit crystal growth, while in the transistor channel the semiconductor crystals grow, forming a polycrystalline layer. This contrast between hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties induces a well-defined pattern, relevant for the development of printed electronics, where wettability and capillary forces govern the formation of semiconductor layers.
Imagen obtenida con microscopio óptico con luz polarizada que muestra estructuras cristalinas con morfología floral en tonos azules y patrones simétricos formados tras el tratamiento térmico de los films preparados desde disolución.
A microscope slide with a sample of an organic material used in solar cells with a spectroscopic image of the sample in the background.
Curcuminoid-based crystallized compound deposited onto SiO2 through sublimation. Under the MO (20x), in a certain region of my sample (which I do not want to recall), the crystal shapes can remind us of a dragon flying near the Sun if you stare at it with a tipsy mindset.
Polarized light microscopy image of a nickel hydroxide film on silicon substrate by spin coating. These striking color patterns are related to changes in the film thickness.
When studying our particle on a mirror system in the Raman set-up, we came across this beautiful volcano resulting from the agglomeration of some nanoparticles.
Polarized light microscopy image of a nickel hydroxide film on silicon substrate with cracks formed after thermal treatment.
An organic material transitioning from a polycrystalline thin film towards a tangle of three-dimensional elongated crystals. Captured with Olympus BX51 microscope.
An organic field-effect transistor fabricated on a silicon/silicon dioxide substrate, featuring gold source and drain electrodes, and a thin film composed of TIPS-pentacene blended with polystyrene (10k), deposited via the Bar-Assisted Meniscus Shearing (BAMS) technique.
Human epithelial-like H1299-eGFP lung cells imaged under an optical microscope, resembling a nearly full moon.
Fragments of TCNQ scattered across a silicon/silicon dioxide surface, deposited using Bar-Assisted Meniscus Shearing technique.
Polymeric fibers composed of drug-loaded nanoparticles serve as a platform for formulating solid dosage forms. The drug used presents a pharmaceutical challenge due to its low water solubility; therefore, the use of these fibers helps increase the drug's solubility and bioavailability in the body.
SEM micrograph (QUANTA FEI 200FEG-ESEM) of a mixture of feldspars + quartz, i.e. a silicate-rich rock (granite/granodiorite type).