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a The nanophotonics enhanced coverslip (NEC) adds phase imaging capability to a normal microscope coverslip, thereby shrinking bulky phase-imaging methods down to the size of a chip. The less than 200 nm thick design consists of a subwavelength spaced grating on top of an optically thin film, supported by a glass substrate. b Exemplary demonstration of phase-imaging of human cancer cells (HeLa cells) using the NEC. By placing the Petri dish containing the cell culture directly on top of the NEC, pseudo 3D images of the cells are created. The obtained images are similar to those obtained by the conventional phase-imaging technique of differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy. In the reference image, recorded without the NEC, the cells are mostly invisible. c Use of the NEC device not only enabled visualization of the general shape of the cell, but also features inside of the cel
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IMAGE: a The nanophotonics enhanced coverslip (NEC) adds phase imaging capability to a normal microscope coverslip, thereby shrinking bulky phase-imaging methods down to the size of a chip. The less than. view more
Credit: by Lukas Wesemann, Jon Rickett, Jingchao Song, Jieqiong Lou, Elizabeth Hinde, Timothy J. Davis, and Ann Roberts
The ability to visualize transparent objects such as biological cells is of fundamental importance in biology and medical diagnostics. Conventional approaches to achieve this include phase-contrast microscopy and techniques that rely on chemical staining of biological cells. These techniques, however, rely on expensive and bulky optical components or require changing, and in some cases damaging, the cell by introducing chemical contrast agents. Significant recent advances in nanofabrication technology permit structuring materials on the nanoscale with unprecedented precision. This has given rise to the revolutionary field o
tmrFebruary 9, 2021
Solar Windows: Introduction
Solar windows are usually windows that function as solar panels to harvest the solar energy from the Sun and convert it to electricity. Solar windows are used on residential and commercial buildings with little to no upfront costs.
Solar windows can be purchased as separate units or could be created by applying a photovoltaic film onto the glass of the window. Furthermore, some manufacturers create independent solar windows by sandwiching existing solar panel cells between two layers of glass.
Solar independent window units are also made from photovoltaic glass in which invisible wires are utilized to collect energy made from the photovoltaic glass and subsequently, transfers it to the power grid