Nanotechnology Research Center
Georgia Institute of Technology Why is knowing about nanoscale science important for our students
The NSF estimates that by the year 2015 there will be a need for 2 million workers worldwide in the fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology. An additional 5 million workers will be needed in support areas for these fields By 2015, nanotechnology is expected to be a $2 trillion “industry” (Lux
Research)
What is a “nano”
A nano is one billionth of a meter or 10‐9 m
A normal person can walk 32 kilometers or about 20 miles in one day. If a person were shrunk so that they were one nanometer tall, how long would it take them to walk the length of a dollar bill?
24 Years
What is nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable novel applications. Engineering
Is the applying of scientific and mathematical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of people.
But, how do you design and build things that you cannot see (nanoscale).
How do we engineer materials at the nanoscale
y Top‐down nanofabrication – start with large material and bring it down to the nanoscale
y Bottom‐up nanofabrication – start with individual atoms and build upwards to make a nanostructure
Self‐assembly
Under specific conditions, some materials can spontaneously assemble into organized structures.
Many factors affect the process of self‐assembly. These include the structure, composition and properties of the materials to be assembled and the environment in which the assembly will take place.
Fly Prison
Comes from a unit called “Using Modeling to Demonstrate Self‐Assembly in Nanotechnology”
Task: Your task is to arrange tiny fruit fly larvae in an orderly fashion stuck to a wafer.
But you must accomplish this in an orderly fashion based on scientific principles.
Steps for Building Fly Prison
Connection to Curriculum
Molecules
Polarity
Organic molecules
Inorganic molecules
Hydrophobic materials
Hydrogen bonds
Surface Tension
Forces
Energy
Encapsulation
Micro‐encapsulation
Used to protect medicine from stomach acids
Scratch‐n‐
sniff stickers
Pressure‐
activated adhesives
Carbonless copy paper
Encapsulation
Activity comes from lesson called “Connecting Acids and Bases with Encapsulation…. and Chemistry with Nanotechnology”
Objectives: 1.To provide students with experience in encapsulating materials.
2.To make students aware of the importance of the scale of capsules and the biological entities with which they are interacting.
3.Introduce students to the wide array of cancer diagnostic techniques/treatments being researched.
Fluid Mosaic Model of the Cell Membrane and how it relates to cutting edge research
Fluid Mosaic Model of the Cell
Membrane
Quantum dots (red color in image
above) glowing after targeting to
cancer cells.
Connections to Curriculum
Lesson: Well Demo and Using Water Filter to Explore Remediation Techniques
Curriculum Connection: NSES Standard F
Environmental Quality and Natural and Human induced Hazards
Nano Connection: Shows how using nano‐sized particles such as iron can be used to clean up contamination of water.
Connections to Curriculum
Lesson: Big Ideas at a Very Small Scale
Connections to Curriculum: NSES Standard B
Structure and Properties of Matter
Nano Connections:
At the nano scale materials do not appear the same as at macro scale and this determines how they will interact.
Connections to Curriculum
Lesson: Mixtures and Nanotechnology
Curriculum Connection: NSES Content Standard B
Structure and Properties of Matter
Nano Connection:
One of the characteristics that classification of mixtures is based on is size and that determines how solutions, colloids and suspensions behave.
Connections to Curriculum
Lesson: Quantum Dots
Curriculum Connections: NSES Content Standard B
Motions and Forces ; Interactions of Matter and Energy
Nano Connections:
Quantum Dots are nano size semiconductors that can be designed to be a particular size.
Connections to Curriculum
Lesson: Forensic Science Soapbox DNA
Curriculum Connections: NSES Content Standard B
Molecular Basis of Heredity
Nano Connections:
Applications to the processes that are being used to develop lab‐on‐a chip technology
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN)
Networked partnership of user facilities
Serves the resource needs of nanoscale science and engineering
http://www.education.nnin.org
NNIN seeks to
y Excite teachers and students about nanotechnology
y
y
y
Provide support for classroom use of materials
Offer remote use of lab capabilities
Provide materials for classroom use (simple to in‐depth)
Thank you for coming!