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This atomic force microscopy image (16 mm x 16 mm) shows the self-assembly of 270-nm multilayers of polystyrene nanospheres. The height of each successive layer is coded with an increasing brightness level. Domains of hexagonal-closest-packed spheres separated by grain boundaries as well as vacancies are observed. The upper portion of this image also shows the presence of a trilayer island. These nanospheres provide a powerful model system for investigating several important concepts in surface and materials chemistry, including packing symmetry and density, defect formation, nucleation and growth, and layer-by-layer synthesis of materials.

See the article Interactive Nano-Visualization of Materials over the Internet.