Nanotechnology: From Lab Bench to Classroom

Marina Damiano Northwestern University

Michael Davis Wilbur Wright College

2013 STEM Summit – Stevenson High School

NANO 101

Nano Means “Dwarf”Prefix Measurement

Scientific Notation

Kilo- 1000 m 1 x 103 mHecta- 100 m 1 x 102 mDeka- 10 m 1 x 101 mBASE 1 m 1 x100 mDeci- 0.1m 1 x 10-1mCenti- 0.01 m 1 x 10-2 mMilli- 0.001m 1 x 10-3 m

Micro- 0.000001 m 1 x 10-6 m

Nano-0.000000001

m1 x 10-9 m

Pico-0.0000000000

01 m1 x 10-12 m

Femto-0.0000000000

00001 m1 x 10-15 m

http://education.mrsec.wisc.edu/Edetc/nanoscale/index.html

Sears Tower (0.5 km)

Child (1 m) Sugar cube(1 cm)

Dime (1 mm)

Bacteria(10 µm)

Virus (40nm) DNA (2 nm) Atoms (< 1 nm)

NANOSCALE (1-100 nm)

Nano Size = Special Properties

Bulk Gold Nano Gold

Nanotechnology Is Not A New Idea

Lycurgus Cup, 4th century

Stained Glass,6th-15th centuries

Damascus Swords,13th-18th centuries

Now Nanomaterials Are Everywhere!

Liquid Crystal Display

Computer Chips

Sunblock

Medicine Energy

Security Environment

NANO

Applications of Nanotechnology

WHY TEACH NANOTECHNOLOGY?

NANOTECHNOLOGY CLASSROOM APPLICATIONS

Interdisciplinary

NANOTECH

Physics

Biology

Chemistry

MaterialsScience

Engineering

Nano Printing Press – Micro contact Printing

• A technique for modifying surfaces with a high degree of control.

• Hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions on a gold surface (CDRs)

• Inexpensive method to demonstrate a simple process.

• Commonly used technique for surface modification.

Nano Printing Press – Microcontact Printing

• Expose a gold surface on a CDR.

• Pattern the surface with a hydrophilic organic molecule.

• Dip the patterned surface in a solution with a hydrophobic organic molecule.

• Dry the surface.• Cool the surface below the

dew point.• Observe the areas where

water condenses.

Nano Printing Press

• Science is based on a strong bond between gold and sulfur (thiol).

• Long organic molecule ends in something either hydrophilic or hydrophobic.

• Microcontact printing uses a stamp made by pouring an elastic polymer over a mask.

• Finer mask, finer features, more control.

Lithographic Techniques – Solar Photography

• Photo sensitive paper– Mixture of iron salts

• Place an opaque object over the paper.

• Expose the paper to light.– Opaque objects block out

the light and expose the rest of the salts.

– Exposed iron salts form an insoluble salt.

– Unexposed salts are water soluble.

• Remove the object.• Wash.

Lithographic Techniques in Nanotechnology

• Techniques that build nanostructures or arrays.

• Bottom – up approach– Prepare areas on a surface– Utilize self assembly to

build up from that point.

• Top – down approach– Prepare a surface and etch

into it.– Can involve some light

based photochemistry.

Scanning Tunneling Microscope

• A very sharp tip is brought near a surface.

• A voltage is applied between the surface and tip.

• Current is measured on the surface to determine the size and shape of features.

• STM can resolve features that are 0.1nm wide and 0.01nm high.

• Atomic resolution.

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)

Nano-Analogy

Nano – Analogy

Nano in the Environment

• Nanoparticles being made end up being released into the environment.

• Unicellular and multicellular organisms pick up the particles.

• Silver nanoparticles are antimicrobial.

• What are the long term effects of exposure?

Nano in Commercial Products

• Sunscreen (TiO2 and ZnO)

• Silver in bandages.• Silver in plastic food

containers.• Nanoscale fabrics on

stainresistant clothing.• Carbon nanotubes in

sporting equipment.• Particles in stained glass.

Nano-Imagination - Robots

Nano-Imagination – Robots in the Blood

False – Blood Robots True – Nanoparticles to Treat Tumors

Nanotechnology Resources• NISE-Net: Network of Informal

Educators and Researchers (nisenet.org).

• MRS Nano Days:Free digital and physical activities for kids and adults. (nisenet.org/nanodays)

• National Lab Day: Localized resources for teachers. (Nationallabnetwork.org)

• Nanohub: Online resource for computational nanotech (nanohub.org)

• iLabcentral: Forum for shared instrumentation. Nanotech coming. (ilabcentral.org)

Nano Resources Students - REU

• Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates.

• Spend the summer working in a lab group.

• Potential for a publication.• 8 – 10 weeks.• On campus housing• Stipend ~$4,500• REU sites all over the US• Applications due in Feb.

Nano Resources Teachers - RET

• Research Experience for Teachers

• Spend the summer working in a lab group.

• Potential for a publication.• 8-10 weeks.• On campus housing

(sometimes available).• Stipend ~$6,000 - $8,000• Some college credit may be

available.• RET Sites all over the US.• Applications typically due in

Feb / March.• RETnetwork.org

Acknowledgements

Shuo Yang, PhD

Heng Zhang, PhD

C. Shad Thaxton, MD PhD

Leo I. Gordon, MD

Margaret Connolly

Michelle Paulsen