By Lee Ann Santore

Microforms that take on the structure of flowers could be the future of cutting-edge technology. A team of researchers, from the RMIT-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Research Centre, led by Dr. Sheshanath Boshanale, succeeded in developing microforms, microscopic images used for storage of larger images, with flower-like structures. The microflowers have exciting potential in many fields, such as optoelectronics, nanotechnology, and biomedicine. To create these microflowers, scientists combined NDI-bearing phosphonic acid and melamine in water. The microflowers construct through self-repeating arrangements, and once they form the water is evaporated off.  These flower structures have unique surfaces that will significantly increase the potential of microforms. The development of microflowers is just the beginning: there will be countless applications of these microflowers in a multitude of fields to come.

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Image Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Purple_Flowers_1296.jpg