Nanobeads used to create microscope superlens

The titanium dioxide nanoparticles are applied to the material or object to be viewed, rather than being fixed to the microscope. Droplet-like lens structures formed of millions of nanobeads break up light, refracting it to illuminate objects with tiny individual beams. According to the study, published in the journal Science Advances, the superlens adds 5x magnification to existing microscopes.

“We've used high-index titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles as the building element of the lens,” said Dr Zengbo Wang from Bangor University. “These nanoparticles are able to bend light to a higher degree than water. To explain, when putting a spoon into a cup of this material, if it were possible, you'd see a larger bend where your spoon enters the material than you would looking at the same spoon in a glass of water."

"Each sphere bends the light to a high magnitude and splits the light beam, creating millions of individual beams of light. It is these tiny light beams which enable us to view previously unseen detail."