Grown ‘Butterflies’ on a ‘Gold Mine.’

A microscopic view of a crystalline structure with a brilliant gold and metallic luster. The crystals form radiating, fan-like patterns and geometric, hexagonal shapes that overlap across the frame. Some areas show iridescent, rainbow-like highlights, all contained within a circular field of view against a dark, shadowed background.
Label
Grown ‘Butterflies’ on a ‘Gold Mine.’
Artist
Oluwadara Olasupo
Description
A novel organic-inorganic hybrid semiconductor material developed in our laboratory was processed into a solution and crystals were grown from this solution by drop-casting on a hot plate at 153° Celsius. These types of hybrid crystals are now being studied and applied towards cheaper, more efficient, and environmentally-friendly optoelectronic applications such as X-ray imaging detectors, LEDs, solar cells, etc. Of particular significance to my research is their application in X-ray imaging towards safer health care, scientific/industrial research, and national security.
Type
Cell Phone Camera
Artist Affiliation
Graduate Student
Department
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Area of Research
Materials Chemistry, Optoelectronics
Research Group Site
Dr. Biwu Ma
Date
2022