Updated September 2011 How can we determine atomic and nano structures when they are too small for any microscope?

Updated September 2011

How can we determine atomic and nano

structures when they are too small for any

microscope?


Diffraction

Cc by Nevit Dillman


dif·frac·tion –noun Physics .

the bending of waves, especially sound and light waves, around

obstacles in their path.

Cc by KlaudiuMihaila


With diffraction, researchers do not see shadows or pictures of the atomic structures. They see patterns resulting from the light passing around the structures. Even thought they have a good diffraction pattern, significant analysis is needed to determine the true shape of the target.

Image by Lawrence Berkly National Laboratory


In the 1950’s, Rosalind Franklin used x-ray crystallography to take a picture of the diffraction pattern of the DNA molecule. Her work helped to prove that the shape of the molecule was a double helix.

Image byNational Institutes of Heath

Image from Encyclopedia Britannica

Cc by Richard Wheeler

Updated September 2011Image by Othmar Marti


This module is one of a series designed to introduce faculty and high school students to the basic concepts of nanotechnology. Each module includes a

PowerPoint presentation, discussion questions, and hands-on activities, when applicable.

The series was funded in part by:

The National Science Foundation

Grant DUE-0702976and the

Oklahoma Nanotechnology Education Initiative

Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the

National Science Foundation or the Oklahoma Nanotechnology Education Initiative.


Image Credits

Dillman, Nevit. (Animator). Diffraction. [Animation]. Wikimedia Commons. (commons.wikimedia.org)

DNA X-Ray. [Photograph]. National Institutes of Health.

Franklin, Rosalind. [Photograph]. In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/99712/Rosalind-Franklin

KlaudiuMihaila. (Illustrator). Electron Diffraction [Illustration]. Wikimedia Commons. (commons.wikimedia.org)

Lawrence Berkley International Laboratory (Illustrator). X-Ray Diffraction Set Up. [Illustration]. Retrieved from http://www.lbl.gov/publicinfo/newscenter/features/assets/img/aerogel/x-ray-diff-set-

up.jpg

Marti, Othmer. X-Ray Diffraction Patterns [Computer-Generated Image]. Retrieved from http://wwwex.physik.uni- ulm.de/snomweb/colloids/p2/node4.html

Wheeler, Richard. (Illustrator). A-DNA, B-DNA and Z-DNA. [Illustration]. Wikimedia Commons. (commons.wikimedia.org)


References

diffraction. (n.d.). Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved April 03, 2011, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/diffraction

Lisensky, George C., Nordell, Karen J., Condren, S. Michael, Widstrand, Cynthia G., Malone, Diana, Ellis, Arthur B. (2001). Exploring the Nanoworld Activity Kit. Wisconsin: Board of Regents of University of Wisconsin System.

Williams, Linda and Dr. Wade Adams. (2007). Nanotechnology Demystified. [Kindle Version] doi: 10.1036/0071460233

Wilson, Michael, Kanangara, Kamali, Smith, Geoff, Simmons, Michelle, & Raguse, Burkhard. Nanotechnology: Basic Science and Emerging Technologies. (2004). [Kindle Edition] Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com

Documents

Updated September 2011 How can we determine atomic and nano structures when they are too small for any microscope?