image: Illustration Honorable Mention goes to this illustration of Variable-diameter carbon nanotubes. This 3-D illustration shows the production of variable-diameter carbon nanotubes. University of Nebraska-Lincoln electrical engineering professor, Dr. Yongfeng Lu, discovered laser-based production techniques that can precisely control the length, diameter and properties of carbon nanotubes. Using these highly electrically and thermally conductive nanotubes, Lu’s team developed methods to improve transistors and sensors that may one day speed up computers and other electrical devices, while minimizing energy consumption and heat generation. They also discovered how to control a carbon nanotube’s diameter from one end to the other, which alters its characteristics. Lu envisions variable-diameter nanotubes customized for specific uses. This 3-D illustration was developed to help Dr. Lu's team to visualize these nano-scale discoveries for diverse audiences. This image relates to a paper that appeared in the Feb. 03, 2012, issue of Science, published by AAAS. The paper was titled, “2011 International Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge.” view more
Credit: Image courtesy of Joel Brehm, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Office of Research and Economic Development