Spontaneity of Mo Wall
TECHNOLOGY
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ENGINEERING
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VISUAL ART
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SCIENCE
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TECHNOLOGY - ENGINEERING - VISUAL ART - SCIENCE -
by Mashu Harada
Spontaneity of Mo Wall by Mashu Harada is a microscopic image of a wall of a Molybdenum FIB (Focused Ion Beam) grid. When prepared with FIB, Molybdenum is a chemical element that can be used as structures that support and hold samples subjected to high-temperature conditions whilst being examined through Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEMs).
“Using an electron microscope is like embarking on a journey through a microscopic universe, revealing an incredibly small world, even down to individual columns of atoms. ”
Mashu is a materials science researcher with a focus on investigating classes of ceramics for their shielding properties against radiation damage in fusion reactors. He is currently doing his PhD in materials science at Imperial College under Dr. Samuel Humphry-Baker’s supervision.
A closer look into this piece reveals the intricate features of Molybdenum that look similar to textures often seen in nature, like that of waves in the ocean (as Mashu mentions) or even on rocky mountains and cliff edges. This piece has a mystifying resemblance to Geumgang Jeondo by the renowned historical landscape artist Jeong Seon (1676-1759).
Mist-laden mountains with twisted pine trees and freely flowing rivers represent paintings from as early as Korea’s Three Kingdoms dynasty (57 BC-668 AD). This style also became prominent in Japan and China, with the progression of Confucianism, where references to nature symbolised knowledge of the wider world beyond human beings, playing a key role in spirituality. This encouraged artists to create idealised representations of landscapes. However, Jeong revolutionised this era by introducing ‘true view landscape painting’, which accurately depicts the Korean landscape whilst conveying nature’s beauty and harmony. Like Jeong, Mashu shows the ‘true view’ of Molybdenum, revealing the detailed patterns and textures of such precious and rare metals.
“Nature never makes mistakes in being itself. The waves you see in the ocean never make a mistake of being a wave. Their beauty comes from being spontaneous. I see a similar essence here but in the formations of Mo Wall.”
A deeper dive into understanding what fusion reactors are:
All commercial nuclear power is generated through nuclear fission, where radioactive metals like uranium are fired with neutrons, a process which then releases energy in the form of heat and radiation. Nuclear fusion is based on the opposite principle. Fusion reactors force lightweight atoms, like hydrogen, to collide and fuse, releasing enormous amounts of energy in the form of light and heat. This process powers all stars, including our Sun. Researchers have been investigating ways to replicate this on Earth in the hope of establishing a safer and more sustainable source of energy.
Why do we need to find ways of shielding against radiation?
Superconductors are used to contain a state of matter (distinct from solids, liquids or gases) called plasma, in which fusion reactions take place. These superconductors are also vulnerable to radiation emitted by the fusing plasma, which can impair their properties and, therefore, the efficiency of the fusion reaction. Hence the importance of identifying shielding materials that can efficiently protect superconductors.
What compounds does Mashu research for shielding against fusion reactor radiation, and how do electron microscopes like TEMs help with the investigations?
Mashu’s work focuses on a class of ceramics called tungsten borides and their response to radiation damage. Tungsten borides combine the desirable properties of high thermal stability, radiation resistance, and neutron absorption, making them promising candidates for radiation shielding.
They offer a novel approach compared to more traditional materials like tungsten, beryllium, or lead. Investigating their microstructural evolution under radiation exposure provides key data for their development as a robust shielding material for next-generation fusion reactors.
To do so, Mashu uses TEM, which helps to observe atomic structures and microstructures that are invisible with conventional optical microscopes, allowing him to study how radiation damage affects materials at a nanoscale level.
“Our fractal universe contains beauty at multiple scales, and I wanted to share things that took my breath from the hidden micro-world.”
This provides insights into how impairments translate to macroscale properties like strength, ductility, and thermal conductivity, which, in turn, helps predict how the material will behave in the harsh environment of a fusion reactor.
We also asked Mashu:
What is the significance behind the title of the piece?
Nature never makes mistakes in being itself. The waves you see in the ocean never make a mistake of being a wave. Their beauty comes from being spontaneous. I see a similar essence here but in the formations of Mo Wall.
