Atomic bond types discernible in single-molecule images (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Jason Palmer

Science and technology reporter, BBC News

A pioneering team from IBM in Zurich has published single-molecule images so detailed that the type of atomic bonds between their atoms can be discerned.

The same team took the first-ever single-molecule image in 2009 and more recently published images of a molecule shaped like the Olympic rings.

The new work opens up the prospect of studying imperfections in the "wonder material" graphene or plotting where electrons go during chemical reactions.

The images are published in Science.

The team, which included French and Spanish collaborators, used a variant of a technique called atomic force microscopy, or AFM.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19584301
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/337/6100/1326 (subscribers/purchase only)
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/suppl/2012/09/12/337.6100.1326.DC1/1225621.Gross.SM.pdf (no subscription required)

[a geek named Bob]

1. SWEET!!!

[Scootaloo]

2. That's so damn cool

I'm putting that at #2 on my "sciencegasm" picture list (the Hubble deep field is #1, now and forever)

[AlecBGreen]

4. ditto to that

"the Hubble deep field is #1, now and forever"

[Duppers]

3. Excellent! AFM is tremendously useful.

Two family members work in the field.