Silicon crystal diffraction pattern, coloured transmission electron micrograph. This three-fold symmetric electron diffraction pattern was produced from a pure silicon crystal with pseudo-colour rendering. The crystal was viewed diagonally across the unit cell. Diffraction patterns give researchers information about the structure of crystal lattices, such as the rotational symmetry. Single crystals of silicon form the basis of electronics and photovoltaics. This image also contains Kikuchi patterns and lines.