Supramolecular assemblies of six rubidium and one iron atom.
They pass through objects which, depending on the material, absorb different amounts of radiation.
This produces data often presented as images, for example, of broken bones.
Supramolecular assemblies of six rubidium and one iron atom. (Photo:Ajayi et al./Nature)
The study, published inNature, explains that researchers achieved this feat with a technology called synchrotron X-ray.
This technique involves accelerating electrons to make an extremely high energy source.
This is known assynchrotron X-ray scanning tunneling microscopyor SX-STM.
Rubidium atoms are blue and the iron atom is red. (Photo:Ajayi et al./Nature)
By measuring the electrons excited by the X-rays, the probe could identify which atom it was.
In addition to X-raying the single atom effectively, they learned about its chemical properties in new ways.
We have detected the chemical states of individual atoms as well, Professor Hlaexplains.
On the left is a terbium supramolecular assembly (terbium is cyan, bromine is blue, oxygen is red). On the right is an SX-STM image of the terbium supramolecular assemblies. (Photo:Ajayi et al./Nature)
This achievement also opens the road for advanced materials science instrumentation.
Rubidium atoms are blue and the iron atom is red.
On the right is an SX-STM image of the terbium supramolecular assemblies.
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