Tyndall has extended its congratulations to the winners of the STS Elionix Scientific Image Competition of Q3 2025.
Open to all researchers at Tyndall, the competition provides a platform to celebrate the artistic side of science, as seen through the microscope. Entrants were invited to submit images that not only reflect their research but also captivate the eye.
The judging panel for this quarter included Professor William Scanlon, CEO, Tyndall; Dr Graeme Maxwell, head of specialty products & services; Dr Daniela Iacopino, researcher, MNS; Ursula Morrish, marketing and communications manager.
The judges selected three winning entries based on their originality, visual impact, and scientific relevance. The winners of the Q2 2025 competition are:
- Rupa Ranjani Palanisamy – 'Fluorescent Ice Cube'
- Giovanni Piscopo, Artem Vorobev, Tomasz Piwonski – 'Dragon Meta-Scales'
- Richard Murphy – 'Blazing a Trail'
Each winner will receive a €150 Me2You Gift Card, generously sponsored by STS Elionix, in recognition of their contribution to scientific communication and visual storytelling.
Fluorescent Ice Cube
By Rupa Ranjani Palanisamy, Advanced Energy Materials Group & Materials Chemistry & Analysis Group.
The image depicts ZnCo₂S₄ material synthesised via the hydrothermal method. Under a scanning electron microscope, the particle resembles a glowing block of ice. The colouring causes the cube to glow, transforming it into a vivid display of light and structure.
Beneath this artistic surface lies a scientific story. This is not a block of ice, but an electrode material from the TRANSLATE project, designed to convert heat into electricity through electrochemical means. The cube’s surface is dotted with tiny particles that serve as active sites, enhancing its electrochemical performance. The image illustrates how complex science connects with everyday life, offering a glimpse into the microscopic world. It serves as a reminder that even the smallest structures can influence the energy technologies of the future.
Dragon Meta-Scales
By Giovanni Piscopo, Artem Vorobev & Tomasz Piwonski, Photonics – Centre for Advanced Photonics & Process Analysis.
A triangular pillar-based metasurface was fabricated in Tyndall on a silicon-on-silicon-dioxide platform. The nanostructures were designed and optimised for compatibility with stepper lithography fabrication processes. The strongly asymmetric shape was engineered to support Bound States in the Continuum (BIC), enabling strong resonant behaviour and near-field enhancement for spectroscopy applications.
The fabricated metasurface will be used to improve existing photothermal spectroscopy (PTS) techniques, with the aim of facilitating the detection of poisonous gases and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in fields relevant to medicine and industry.
Blazing a Trail
By Richard Murphy, Speciality Products & Systems Group.
Laser dicing of an 8in silicon wafer using Tyndall’s LASEROD LPS-300 system. This precision process enables clean, high-quality cuts essential for advanced semiconductor device fabrication. The LPS-300 offers sub-micron accuracy, making it ideal for research and industrial applications where reliability and minimal damage are critical.