SEM-EDX Analysis Summary: Identifying Material

[Yel744]

Homework Statement

This is a biological sample. Guess what sample is this?

Relevant Equations

SEM-EX results

Summary:: SEM-EDX Analysis

Hi! Just would like to ask for some insights. I needed to identify the material based on its SEM-EDX results. However, after several researches, I still have no idea what it is. Any idea would help. thanks.

Edit:

Another information given to me was that this is a biological sample. Hence, I started my analysis with the idea that this is a biological sample with hairy-like structures. These "hair-like" structures are very much hairlike as the SEM shows that it is of similar thickness with an average human hair. Furthermore, these hair-like structures are less than half a centimeter long only. I was thinking it might be a leaf with hairy features but I couldn't seem to find a leaf that is mainly composed of silicon. I then thought that it might be some sort of an insect, yet, still, I couldn't find any insect that's basically like an Si-O species.

 

[berkeman]

Welcome to PF.

What other information do you have about this material? Where did you get it? Or is this a schoolwork assignment where this is the only information you are given?

 

[Yel744]

Welcome to PF.

What other information do you have about this material? Where did you get it? Or is this a schoolwork assignment where this is the only information you are given?

Hi, thanks for this response. Yes, this is school work and these are the only information given. If only I have any idea on what possible silicon species this is.

 

[berkeman]

Okay, I'll move this thread to the schoolwork forums then. Please tell us more about your thoughts on this. You need to show your best efforts to address this question before we can be of tutorial help.

 

[Yel744]

Another information given to me was that this is a biological sample. Hence, I started my analysis with the idea that this is a biological sample with hairy-like structures. These "hair-like" structures are very much hairlike as the SEM shows that it is of similar thickness with an average human hair. Furthermore, these hair-like structures are less than half a centimeter long only. I was thinking it might be a leaf with hairy features but I couldn't seem to find a leaf that is mainly composed of silicon. I then thought that it might be some sort of an insect, yet, still, I couldn't find any insect that's basically like an Si-O species.

 

[mjc123]

They are less than half a millimetre long. (Which is, admittedly, less than half a centimetre.)
I don't know what this is, but the Wikipedia article on silicon suggests some possibilities (see "biological role").

 

[haruspex]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siliceous_sponge