Mesmerizing Crystals of Nickel Complex

A close-up of a glass vial containing a "chemical garden" reaction. Intricate, needle-like mineral structures in vibrant shades of emerald green and deep sapphire blue grow downward from the top and upward from a dark sediment layer at the bottom. The structures resemble delicate crystalline branches or pine needles suspended in a clear liquid.

Label: Mesmerizing Crystals of Nickel Complex
Artist: Divya
Description: This picture captures beautifully grown crystals of [Ni(tao)N3] complex in diethyl ether via layering. The green color crystals is the monomer of above mentioned complex whereas the blue one is a dimer. We were synthesizing the monomer but accidentally got a dimer along with the monomer creating this captivating sight.
Type: Cell phone camera
Artist Affiliation: Graduate Student
Department: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Area of Research: Inorganic Materials
Research Group Site: Shatruk Research Group
Date: 2024