Updated September 2011
How can we determine atomic and nano
structures when they are too small for any
microscope?
Updated September 2011
Diffraction
Cc by Nevit Dillman
Updated September 2011
dif·frac·tion –noun Physics .
the bending of waves, especially sound and light waves, around
obstacles in their path.
Cc by KlaudiuMihaila
Updated September 2011
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
Updated September 2011
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
Updated September 2011
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.
Updated September 2011
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)
Updated September 2011
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