from Part V - Other applications
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
History of diatom nanotechnology
As to form, the Diatoms present an infinite variety of size and outline. Mathematical curves of the most exquisite perfection, combinations which the designer would grasp with eagerness on the planning of his models, surfaces adorned with the most unlimited profusion of style and ornamentation, are everywhere presented
(Bailey, 1867).The origin of individual organization is one of those stubborn problems to which each generation of biologists has addressed itself anew
(Hall, 1969).Diatom nanotechnology started in 1863, when Max Schultze (Figure 35.1) noted that structures manufactured from silica vapor precipitating “in the form of minute spherules or lenticular particles” resembled diatoms (Schultze, 1863a, b) (Figure 35.2). He further showed “that neither in the artificial siliceous pellicles nor in the diatom valves are the peculiar forms due to a crystalline structure,” i.e. both consisted of amorphous silica. Schultze's controlled assembly at microscopic levels pre-dated the “father” of nanotechnology (Feynman, 1960), by almost 100 years. Schultze also did pioneering work on diatom motility, including discovery of the raphe (Schultze, 1858a, b, 1865; Goodale, 1885), but like most other diatomists until recently (Gordon et al., 2009), made his living in other fields, such as cytology, anatomy, histology, microscopy and vision, and is noted for clarifying the cell theory (Nordenskiöld, 1928; Hall, 1969; Werner et al., 1987; Nyhart, 1995; Brewer, 2006).
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.