Georgia Tech researchers have developed a technique to study how unicellular micro-algae, known as diatoms, create their complex cell walls. They hope to learn how diatoms assemble intricate micro-architectures to find better ways to create nanomaterials.

Diatoms are single-celled organisms that frequently appear as a brown, slippery coating on submerged stones and as phytoplankton in the open ocean. Tiny pores in the cell wall allow diatoms to exchange nutrients with the environment and remain at the surface of the water to absorb sunlight for photosynthesis. The pores allow diatoms to be lightweight, but their cell wall gives them a strong mechanical structure.

"Diatoms are nature's most gifted nanotechnologists," said Georgia Tech's Nils Kröger. "We want to learn how diatom cell walls are produced because human technology can't make something that intricate by self-assembly processes and under ambient conditions." (photo Nils Kröger)