Here at Linkam we are always excited to see the amazing images our users capture showing how their samples evolve with changing temperature and environmental conditions. You might have seen some of them featured on our instagram – from freeze-dried embryos to high-temperature phase changes, researchers have captured amazing microscopy images to show how their samples physically changed.
Researchers in Brussels have taken this one step further – creating a choreographed audio-visual performance following the physical changes of organic materials as temperature changes (from crystal, to liquid crystal, to liquid). Check out the recording of the audiovisual performance, titled “Tales of Entropy”, here:
The experiments were carried out by Guillaume Schweicher, FNRS Postdoctoral Fellow at the Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, and set to an ambient soundscape created by Brussels-based artist Juanita, under the artistic direction of Nicolas Klimis. Guillaume pursued a PhD studying the alignment of organic crystals within a thermal gradient and has since published over 35 peer reviewed articles. His current research interests aim at developing novel organic and hybrid semiconducting materials for greener and more sustainable electronics.
Guillaume commented “the use of organic and hybrid materials as semiconductors for electronics have great potential, not least in terms of their environmental impact – they are easily removeable/reusable by dissolving the adhering substance, which makes them better for recycling compared to the inorganic electronic industry.”
Nicolas Klimis (left) and Guillaume Schweicher (right), creators of “Tales of Entropy”
In the course of his work, Guillaume aims to develop temperature control experiments, including using the Linkam THMS600 and GS350, to analyse samples. He uses polarised microscopy to obtain images of single crystals – but has found that in the course of the analysis in searching for the correct crystals, he had observed many images that, while not suitable for scientific analysis, are beautiful from an artistic point of view. In particular, the cracks and contours on the crystal and liquid crystal surface are highlighted by this polarised microscopy technique and produce an array of colours.
Guillaume formed a collaboration with Nicolas, a colleague from engineering school, under the umbrella of Art-Science production company Ohme. Ohme works to unite science and art though collaboration between scientists and artists, with the aim of presenting science in new ways which are more accessible to a wider audience. Using Guillaume’s organic materials samples, “Tales of Entropy” is one of their first major productions.
Moments from “Tales of Entropy”
“Tales of Entropy” is evolving as a series of multiformat live performances incorporating the evolving organic materials on the Linkam stage. The first edition of the series features live music from Juanita, and is now available to watch on-demand online.
The performance is an eye-opening look at thermodynamic phase changes and highlights the beauty of material evolution. The work shows how the physical state of an organic compound changes with temperature, and is visualised using polarised microscopy. Guillaume used a polarized optical microscope and video setup along with a Linkam temperature control chamber to carefully control the temperature conditions of the sample, capturing video as the thermodynamic conditions evolved. The video follows a 1mm2 region of the sample as it evolves and phase-changes from crystal to liquid-crystal, to liquid, before recrystallisation and re- orientation. The polarised microscopy emphasizes these orientational and state changes through stunning structural and colour changes.
Guillaume, Nicolas and co-workers have recently released a second iteration of the performance which builds on the first one, adding in more immersive visuals with a rear-projected live image of the evolving materials behind a string quartet, who play an adaptive piece influenced by the changes of state of the materials.
“Tales of Entropy with Boho Strings”, debuted at La Vallée in Brussels in May 2021
Guillaume and Nicolas hope this visual science will help raise interest in the work scientists are doing, as well as the role organic materials play in the search for more environmentally friendly technology: “My research career has focussed on using organic semiconducting materials for greener electronics. Through Ohme, and collaborations with artists such as Juanita, Evelina Domnitch and Dmitry Gelfand and Boho Strings, in addition to collaborations with scientific instrument manufacturers such as Linkam, we hope to highlight use of these materials and techniques, and the value they bring to technology progress. We intend to show the pure materials, visually, without associating this with any of the implications these chemicals may have on the general public. Showing the simple visual beauty of the physical chemistry in an artistic sense leaves room for thought and technical discussion beyond the realms of the performance. I hope we can help to highlight the bright future vision of greener chemistry and electronics.”
Ohme shared the debut performance of the second iteration of Tales of Entropy at La Vallée in Brussels in May 2021. The production, as part of a Das Haus residency, brings a new dimension to the performance, bringing intimate scenography designed by Studio Marie Douel, in collaboration with media artist Yannick Jacquet and Flemish string quarter ensemble Boho Strings.
To find out more about Linkam’s temperature control stages, contact Linkam here.
To find out more about Guillaume’s research, and Ohme’s projects as well as to enquire about booking “Tales of Entropy”, contact Ohme via http://www.ohme.be/contact-us.
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