Multimedia Gallery
The element symbol for silicon spelled out on a fingertip with luminescent silicon nanoparticles.
The element symbol for silicon, "Si," spelled out on a fingertip with luminescent porous silicon nanoparticles. The finger is being illuminated with an ultraviolet ("black") light, and the bright red-orange photoluminescence is observed. Prepared from high-purity silicon wafers, these nanoparticles provide a nontoxic and biodegradable alternative to conventional quantum dots for drug delivery and medical diagnostic applications.
Credit: Luo Gu, Ji-Ho Park, UCSD
Images credited to the National Science Foundation, a federal agency, are in the public domain. The images were created by employees of the United States Government as part of their official duties or prepared by contractors as "works for hire" for NSF. You may freely use NSF-credited images and, at your discretion, credit NSF with a "Courtesy: National Science Foundation" notation.
Additional information about general usage can be found in Conditions.
Also Available:
Download the high-resolution BMP version of the image. (2.5 MB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
Related story: Safer Nano Cancer Detector