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Micro-carnation

Mari Kasahara, Mine Nakagawa (Hitachi Science Systems, Ltd.)

Toshio Okuhara (Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University)

This is a piece of flower viewed in an SEM column.
The flower is about 1 micron, consisting of phosphorus, vanadium, etc. It is actually a selective oxidation catalyzer which is used in a natural gas purifying process (changing normal butane into maleic acid anhydride). The petal structure of the flower increases surface area and improves performance of catalyzer.
This microscopy has reminded us of Mother's Day when carnation is presented.

1st Prize. At 56th photo contest hosted by the Japanese Society of Electron Microscopy in 2000.

Condition

Specimen : V-P-O catalyst (VOHPO₄/0.5H₂O)
Instrument : Cold Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope S-4300
Magnification : X 45,000
Accelerating voltage : 3 kV

Specimen : Courtesy of Professor Toshio Okuhara (Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University)

Part of information related to these photographers is based on the information when the photo was taken.
This work was presented at the "photo contest" hosted by the Japanese Society of Microscopy.
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