Introducing Nanotechnology
through Investigations of
Groundwater
A Curriculum for Secondary Biology, Chemistry,
and Earth and Environmental Science Teachers
An NSF research
grant “Broader
Impacts” effort
Vital statistics for Nano2Earth:
• $200K investment (within $1M program)
• Four years to develop and test
• Awaiting commercial publication
So who developed and
wrote Nano2Earth??
It took “a cast of thousands . . .”
• 6 professors
• 7 HS teachers!!
• 8 grad students
• 3 staff members
What are Nanoscience
and Nanotechnology?
• How will the
Earth and
environmental
sciences
respond?
NanoGeoscience and Technology Laboratory
Field
Relationship
Newtonian physics
F = ma
matter/wave duality
 = h/mv
diffraction physics
n = 2dsin
quantum mechanics
H = E
nanoscience
Description
classical mechanics
de Broglie relationship
Bragg’s law
Schrödinger equation
Pi,q = f ( lx, ly, lz )
propert y i of
mate rial q is a
funct ion of 3 -D
NanoGeoscience and Technology Laboratory
Nanoscience in everyday life
Alivisatos (1996)
Science.
Quantum dots
CdS/CdSe
5 nm
Physical
Propert y
Macroscale
-CdS
Nanoscale
-CdS
Reference
melting
te mperat ure
1 ,6 0 0 C
4 0 0 C
Goldste in et al.,
1 9 92
tr ansformation
pressure
2 GPa
9 GPa
Tolbert et al.,
1 9 95
band gap
2 .5 eV
4 .5 eV
Vossmeyer et
al., 1 9 94
Historical and Societal
Aspects of Nanoscale
Science and Technology
The
Lycurgus
Cup
There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom
U.S. Budget (billions of $)
20
15
Life Sciences
10
5
Physical Sciences
0
1970
Source: NSF
1980
1990
Year
2000
The Link Between Nanoscale
Science, Technology, and a
Vital Environmental Issue:
Groundwater Pollution
The Scanning Tunneling
Microscope
Oxidized patches
8
Fe
6
4
2.5
2
nm
Pyrite (100)
The Scale of the Earth Sciences
Nano
NanoGeoscience and Technology Laboratory
Nanotechnology and the
National Science Education
Standards
Nano2Earth
Curriculum
Overview
Microbes, Minerals, and Water
http://who.org
http://www.kinetico.com/residntl/
proddrnk.htm
http://ens-news.com/ens/mar2003/200303-17-01.asp
1. Introduction to nanotechnology
2. Introduction to groundwater pollution
3. Microbe-mineral interactions
4. Investigations of bacterial transport
5. Nanoforces in nature
Lesson 1: Introduction to
Nanotechnology
The Scale of the Earth Sciences
Nano
NanoGeoscience and Technology Laboratory
Introduction to Nanotechnology
Scaling Activity Answer Key
Lesson 2: Introduction to Water
Pollution
Water Pollution Webquest Activity
Lesson 3:
MicrobeMineral
Interactions:
Using the
Winogradsky
Column to
Demonstrate the
Microbial Reduction
of Iron3+
Purpose of the activity
The ecosystem will be used to
Observe general visual changes that take place in the
column
Simulate eutrophication
Observe effects of excess nutrients on the system and
dissolved oxygen concentration
Measure and follow changes in DO concentrations
Relate changes in DO to water quality and microbial
activity
Observe changes in Fe3+ to Fe2+ when the column
becomes anaerobic
Relate mineral-microbial activity to water quality
Connect nanotechnology to high school sciences
Procedure
Day 1
1.Build column using
plastic bottles, creek
mud and water.
2. Measure the DO
concentration.
3. Add sugar (+ nutrients)
to the column.
4. Place column in indirect
light or under grow
lamp.
Day 2
1. Observe changes in the
appearance of the
column.
2. Measure the DO
concentration.
3. Add pea sized amount of
iron (III) chloride to the
column.
4. Replace column in indirect
light location.
Following Days
Continue to make observations
Continue to measure DO concentrations
What changes will take
place in the column?
DO concentration drops dramatically
(Column becomes anaerobic.)
Water color changes from brownish to
red/orange back to brownish
(Fe3+ -> Fe2+) in column.
Examples of
student
results
Lesson 4: Investigation of Bacterial
Transport in Groundwater
Introduction to Bacterial Transport
• Pathogenic microorganism is a leading
cause of death in the world
• 10 million people die every year from
waterborne diseases, such as Salmonella,
Cholera, and E. Coli.
• One out of every six people lives without
regular access to safe drinking water
Scenario
Column Experiments
Why does pH
matter?
5. Nanoforces in Nature: Using Atomic Force
Microscopy to Explore Mineral-Microbe
Interactions
solution
mineral
Atomic Force Microscopy
laser
photodiode
detector
computer
cantilever
x,y,z
piezo
B)
A)
C)
D)
F)
G)
Cantilever
E)
Sample
Top of
Scanner
Build an AFM in your classroom
Biological Force Microscopy
solution
mineral
Images by Steven Lower
bead with bacteria
covering it
mineral
cantilever
Evaluation scenarios