Fractal molecules created and photographed
Scientists at the University of Akron, Ohio U. and Clemson U. have created and captured the largest man-made nanoscale fractal molecule (about 12 nanometers wide). They used molecular self-assembly techniques to synthesize the molecule in a lab; bound with ions of iron and ruthenium, it forms a hexagonal gasket. To photograph the molecules, they sprayed them on a piece of gold, chilled to -449 degrees Fahrenheit to keep them stable, and focused with a scanning tunneling microscope. "Blending mathematics, art and science, these nanoscopic hexagonal-shaped materials can be self-assembled and resemble a fine bead necklace. These precise polymers - the first example of a molecule possessing a ‘Star of David’ motif - may provide an entrée into novel new types of photoelectric cells, molecular batteries and energy storage," said George R. Newkome, lead author and dean of the Graduate School at the University of Akron.
Scientists Create the First Synthetic Nanoscale Fractal Molecule, OhioU.edu