README — Nanoparticle Viewer

Nanoparticle Viewer

Interactive browser-based 3D nanoparticle shape visualizer with PBR shading, edge highlights, and core-shell rendering. No installation required — open index.html in any modern browser.

Usage

  1. Click a preset or type a shape name
  2. Press Enter or click Generate
  3. Adjust structural parameters live

Navigation: drag to rotate  ·  scroll to zoom  ·  right-drag to pan

Shape Types

Shape Keywords Key Parameters
Nanosphere sphere, nanosphere Size
Nanorod nanorod, rod Aspect Ratio, Cross-section, Capped Tips, Tip Height
Pyramids square pyramid, pentagonal pyramid, … Apex Height
Bipyramids triangular bipyramid, … Apex Height
Prisms triangular prism, hexagonal prism, … Height
Antiprisms square antiprism, … Height, Twist
Platonic solids tetrahedron, octahedron, icosahedron, dodecahedron Size

The parser is flexible — 5-pyramid, pentagonal-prism, and 8 antiprism all work. Any n from 3–20 is accepted.

Nanorod Parameters

Parameter Effect
Aspect Ratio Length-to-width ratio (1 = equant, 10 = elongated rod)
Cross-section Circle, Triangle, Square, Pentagon, or Hexagonal body
Capped Tips Toggle: flat ends (off) or dome/pyramid end caps (on)
Tip Height Height of cap relative to rod radius (shown when capped)
Transparent Toggle semi-transparent rendering for the rod body

Cap shape follows the cross-section: circular rod → hemisphere dome; polygonal rod → matching pyramid.

Core-Shell

Enables a semi-transparent shell overlay scaled uniformly around the core. Thickness and opacity are adjustable. Useful for modelling ligand shells, silica coatings, or other surface layers.

Design Philosophy

Only structurally meaningful parameters are exposed as controls. Aesthetic values (colors, material finish) use fixed themed defaults. If a shape is a special case of another (e.g. a nanocube is a square nanorod with AR=1), it is represented as a parameter configuration rather than a separate named shape.

Scroll to zoom · Drag to rotate · Right-drag to pan