silica shell

Video: Silica layer enables tuning of structural colors for biocompatible pigments that don’t fade in tattoos, paints, foods, and more

By April Gocha / September 20, 2017

Researchers report a simple method to manufacture biocompatible structural colors using only melanin and silica. The silica shell provides a buffer layer of tunable thickness that allows customization of the particular color, offering the potential to fabricate a new breed of long-lasting pigments that don’t fade.

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Diatoms serve as tiny silica scaffolds for inexpensive and scalable growth of molybdenum disulfide flakes

By April Gocha / September 26, 2016

Researchers at the University of Manchester in the U.K. have devised a strategy that gives new use to diatom shells, using the silica shells as scaffolds for building atomic sheets of molybdenum disulfide.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By April Gocha / February 11, 2015

Silicene transistors are a first, lightweight steel is just as strong, a new synchrotron shines bright, and other materials stories that may be of interest for February 11, 2015.

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