Nanotechnology in the High School Curriculum: From Energy Conversion to Science Ethics Kenneth Bowles Apopka High School NSF: NANOPAC REU Site Host: AMPAC-UCF REU (RET) Nanotechnology Symposium 23 July 2004 12-2:30 PM
What Is All the Fuss About Nanotechnology?
Any given search engine will produce 1.6 million hits
Nanotechnology is on the way to becoming the FIRST trillion dollar market Nanotechnology influences almost every facet of every day life such as security and medicine.
Does Nanotechnology Address Teaching Standards?
Physical science content standards 9-12
Structure of atoms
Structure and properties of matter
Chemical reactions
Motion and forces
Conservation of energy and increase in disorder (entropy)
Interactions of energy and matter
Does Nanotechnology Address Teaching Standards?
Science and technology standards
Abilities of technological design
Understanding about science and technology
Science in personal and social perspectives
Personal and community health
Population growth
Natural resources
Environmental quality
Natural and human-induced hazards
Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges
Does Nanotechnology Address Teaching Standards?
History and nature of science standards
Science as a human endeavor
Nature of scientific knowledge
Historical perspective
Does Nanotechnology Address Teaching Standards? i Nanotechnology Idea Standard it can address The idea of “Nano” – being small Structure of Atoms Nanomaterials have a high surface area (nanosensors for toxins) Structure and properties of matter, Personal and Community Health Synthesis of nanomaterials and support chemistry (space propulsion) Chemical Reactions Shape Memory Alloys Motion and Forces, Abilities of technological design, Understanding about science and technology Nanocrystalline Solar Cells Conservation of Energy and increase in disorder (entropy), Interactions of energy and matter, Natural Resources Nanocoatings resistive to bacteria and pollution Personal and Community Health, Population Growth, Environmental Quality, Natural and human-induced hazards
Does Nanotechnology Address Teaching Standards? Nanotechnology Idea Standard it can address Nanomaterials, such as MR (magneto-resistive) fluids in security Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges Richard P. Feynman’s talk, “There is plenty of room at the bottom”. Feynman had a vision. Science as a human endeavor, Nature of scientific knowledge, Historical perspective Nanocosmetics and nanoclothing Science as a human endeavor, Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges Nanotechnology and Science Ethics Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges, Science as a human endeavor, Historical perspective, Natural and human-induced hazards, Population Growth, Personal and Community Health
An Example of a Nanotechnology Experiment, Which Addresses the Standards: Constructing Nanocrystalline Solar Cells Using the Dye Extracted From Citrus
Four main parts:
Nanolayer
Dye
Electrolyte
2 electrodes
Nanocrystalline Solar Cells: The Materials
Materials:
(2) F-SnO 2 glass slides
Iodine and Potassium Iodide
Mortar/Pestle
Air Gun
Surfactant (Triton X 100 or Detergent)
Colloidal Titanium Dioxide Powder
Nitric Acid
Blackberries, raspberries, green citrus leaves etc.
Masking Tape
Tweezers
Filter paper
Binder Clips
Various glassware
Multi-meter
Preparation of Nanotitanium and Electrolyte Solution
Nanotitanium
Add 2-ml of 2,4 – Pentanedione (C 5 H 8 O 2 ) to 100-ml of anhydrous isopropanol [ (CH 3 ) 2 CHOH ] and stir covered for 20 minutes.
Add 6.04-ml of titanium isopropoxide (Ti[(CH 3 ) 2 CHO] 4 to the solution and stir for at least 2 hours.
Add 2.88-ml of distilled water and stir for another 2 hours.
The solution must then age for 12 hours at room temperature.
Since you now have a collodial suspension, the solvent must be evaporated off in an oven to collect the powder.
Electrolyte solution
Measure out 10-ml of ethylene glycol
Weigh out 0.127-g of I 2 and add it to the ethylene glycol and stir.
Weigh out 0.83 g of KI and add it to the same ethylene glycol.
Stir and sore in a dark container with a tight lid.
Nanocrystalline Solar Cells
Main component: Fluorine doped tin oxide conductive glass slides
Test the slide with a multimeter to determine which side is conductive
Synthesis of the Nanotitanium Suspension
Procedure:
Add 9 ml (in 1 ml increments) of nitric or acetic acid (ph3-4) to six grams of titanium dioxide in a mortar and pestle.
Grinding for 30 minutes will produce a lump free paste.
1 drop of a surfactant is then added ( triton X 100 or dish washing detergent).
Suspension is then stored and allow to equilibrate for 15 minutes.
Coating the Cell
After testing to determine which side is conductive, one of the glass slides is then masked off 1-2 mm on THREE sides with masking tape. This is to form a mold.
A couple of drops if the titanium dioxide suspension is then added and distributed across the area of the mold with a glass rod.
The slide is then set aside to dry for one minute.
Calcination of the Solar Cells
After the first slide has dried the tape can be removed.
The titanium dioxide layer needs to be heat sintered and this can be done by using a hot air gun that can reach a temperature of at least 450 degrees Celsius.
This heating process should last 30 minutes.
Dye Preparation
Crush 5-6 fresh berries in a mortar and pestle with 2-ml of de-ionized water.
The dye is then filter through tissue or a coffee filter and collected.
As an optional method, the dye can be purified by crushing only 2-3 berries and adding 10-ml of methanol/acetic acid/water (25:4:21 by volume)
Dye Absorption and Coating the Counter Electrode
Allow the heat sintered slide to cool to room temperature.
Once the slide has cooled, place the slide face down in the filtered dye and allow the dye to be absorbed for 5 or more minutes.
While the first slide is soaking, determine which side of the second slide is conducting.
Place the second slide over an open flame and move back and forth.
This will coat the second slide with a carbon catalyst layer
Assembling the Solar Cell
After the first slide had absorbed the dye, it is quickly rinsed with ethanol to remove any water. It is then blotted dry with tissue paper.
Quickly, the two slides are placed in an offset manner together so that the layers are touching.
Binder clips can be used to keep the two slides together.
One drop of a liquid iodide/iodine solution is then added between the slides. Capillary action will stain the entire inside of the slides
How Does All This Work?
The dye absorbs light and transfers excited electrons to the TiO 2.
The electron is quickly replaced by the electrolyte added.
The electrolyte in turns obtains an electron from the catalyst coated counter electrode.
TiO 2 = electron acceptor ; Iodide = electron donor ; Dye = photochemical pump
Classroom Ideas With the Cell
Ohm’s law
Electrochemistry
Verification of Kirchhoff’s voltage law with cells in series.
Charging capacitors
Measuring current and power density
Measuring internal resistance
Powering small “no-load” motors
Using the Cell to Measure the Time Constant for an RC Circuit Materials: solar cell, Logger Pro, Graphical Analysis for Windows, Vernier LabPro, Voltage/Current probe, Pasco RC Circuit Board
Using the Cell to Measure the Time Constant for an RC Circuit Capacitor Basics: V(t) = terminal voltage, = EMF ( maximum voltage) , t = time, R = resistance(15K , C = capacitance(1000 F) = time constant = RC =(15x10 3 )(1000x10 -6 )=15 seconds Equation for discharging a Capacitor
Using the Cell to Measure the Time Constant for an RC Circuit Re-arranging the equation algebraically to represent the slope formula. What this basically says is that if you plot the natural log of the ratio of potentials versus the time the slope will equal the inverse of the time constant for this particular RC circuit .
Using the Cell to Measure the Time Constant for an RC Circuit The capacitor was first fully charged then allowed to discharge. The EMF was determine to be The voltage at t=0. Using the examine function we can get various voltage and time data points from the graph. The natural log function can then be applied mathematically.
Using the Cell to Measure the Time Constant for an RC Circuit For a normal 1.5 V battery For the solar cell
Using the Cell to Measure the Time Constant for an RC Circuit For the solar cell For the battery Conclusion: The nanocrystalline solar cell could easily be used in a physics classroom to study capacitors as well as introduce the idea of harnessing the sun’s energy using nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology Curriculum Overview
Summary of teaching modules in a Teacher’s Guide for nanotechnology
Measurement activity called measuring the visible understanding the invisible
Understanding surface area kinetics
Electrical applications of solar cells
Reading in nanotechnology
15 week science ethics forum
Nanotechnology Curriculum Overview - Reading
Apopka oasis reading café
Michael Crichton’s “prey”
John Robert Marlow’s “Nano”
Nanotechnology Curriculum Overview - Reading
Each activity is accompanied by a nanotechnology article
which includes:
Pre-reading activities such as an anticipation guide
Reading strategies such as questioning and prediction verification
Post reading strategies such as the “One Sentence Summary.
Nanotechnology and Science Ethics Based on a course offered at Yale
Week
Overview (Feynman’s “There is plenty of room at the bottom”)
From Fenyman to Funding: The Mighty Dollar
Super intelligence
Nanotechnology
Life Extension and Cryonics
Pharmaceutical Enrichment ( Brave New World)
Threats to Global Security
Strategies for Global Security ( I,Robot)
Automation
Enhanced humans and Immortality
Environmental Effects of nanotechnology
The Gap between science and ethics.
Planned Nanotechnology Activities
Activities:
Making magnetic tiles to simulate “self assembly”.
Making Ferro Fluids to simulate the manufacture of projectile repellant materials.
Using Decanethiol Monolayer on Silver to simulate nanoparticles that resist stains and water absorbance.
A Microfluidic Nanofilter: Filtration of Gold Nanoparticles to simulate nanosensors.
Residual Stress on Nanolayers due to Thermal Heating
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