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Summary: Functional nanomaterials refer to materials engineered or manipulated at the nanoscale level to exhibit specific properties and functionalities that are distinct from their bulk counterparts. These materials are designed with the intention of achieving specific desired functions or applications due to their unique characteristics at the nanoscale.
Functional nanomaterials can have a wide range of properties, such as enhanced mechanical strength, high conductivity, improved catalytic activity, enhanced magnetic properties, or unique optical properties. These properties can be tailored by controlling the size, shape, composition, and surface characteristics of the nanomaterials.
Introductory Slides: Intro to Functional Nanomaterials
Asynchronous Content:
Other Resources:
Intro to Functional Nanomaterials
Intro to Functional Nanomaterials
Intro to Functional nanomaterials.pptmAssociated Materials
Memory Metal
Memory Metal
Shape memory alloys, aka memory metal, show up in a wide variety of applications: low power actuators, glasses frames, orthopedic equipment, and dental braces to name a few. But, how does a metal recall a shape? Why does applying heat to a piece of shape memory restore it to it's original shape? The answer is in the nanostructure of the material.
Associated Materials
Additional Resources: Memory Metal
Additional Resources: Memory Metal
NNIN Memory Metal
Memory-Metal-NNIN-1030_0.pdf - Exploring Shape Memory Alloys Slides
NNIN-Shape-Memory-Alloys1029_0.pdf - Teacher's Preparatory Guide
NISENet: Exploring Materials - Memory Metal: How can a metal "remember"?
"Exploring Materials - Memory Metal" is a hands on activity in which visitors compare the properties of a memory metal spring to an ordinary spring. They learn that the way a material behaves on the macroscale is affected by its structure on the nanoscale.
Superhydrophobicity
Superhydrophobicity
External Resources for Superhydrophobicity
NanoLink: This module demonstrates and gives students an understanding of the forces behind hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions. The balance between cohesive and adhesive forces results in an almost spherical drop of water standing on a surface, such as a lotus leaf. This effect is called superhydrophobicity. Many factors such as liquid type, surface, and temperature will determine whether a surface/liquid combination results in a hydrophobic effect. Students are encouraged to evaluate all the forces acting on the surface/liquid system and write inequalities that support the observations.
NISENet: Exploring Products - Nano Sand: Can sand keep itself dry?
"Exploring Products - Nano Sand" is a hands-on activity exploring how water behaves differently when it comes in contact with nano sand and regular sand. Visitors learn about the hydrophobic properties of nano sand.NISENet: Exploring Products - Kinetic Sand: Why does this dry sand seem wet?
"Exploring Products - Kinetic Sand" is a hands-on activity in which visitors investigate and compare the properties of Kinetic Sand and regular sand. They learn that nanotechnology takes advantage of special properties at the nanoscale to create new materials.
Kinetic sand can serve as a powerful comparison to the magic sand. Kinetic sand is coated with a thin polymer layer of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).
Exploring the Potential of Nanoscience to Improve a Basic Electric Motor
Exploring the Potential of Nanoscience to Improve a Basic Electric Motor
This activity will guide you through the process of constructing a straightforward electric motor using simple materials. It also provides an opportunity for students to consider how nanoscience has the potential to improve the motor in ways the include:
Miniaturization
Enhanced Magnetic Materials
Reduced Friction and Wear
Efficient Conductors
Heat Dissipation
Precision Manufacturing
By incorporating nanoscience advancements into the design and manufacturing processes of electric motors, we can achieve motors that are smaller, more efficient, and more reliable. These improvements can have wide-ranging implications, from enhancing battery-powered devices to optimizing industrial applications that rely on electric motors.
Other Resources: Self-Assembled Monolayer
Other Resources: Self-Assembled Monolayer
Self-assembly happens millions of times every day, all around us. Self-assembly is a process by which molecules and cells form themselves into functional structures.
Self-assembled monolayer (SAM) is a single molecule thick layer of material that assembles spontaneously on a surface in an ordered manner.
In this demo, a silver mirror is fabricated on the surface of a glass slide based on the Tollens’ test. Then the silver mirror is coated with a self-assembled monolayer of octadecanethiol, providing a non-polar surface where water beads up.
Self-Assembled Monolayer Demonstration Lecture
Associated Materials
Self-assembled monolayer lecture video and slides
Self-assembled monolayer demonstration (7 videos) and instructions for the demonstration
A video prepared by another group demonstrating self-assembly of a octadecanethiol monolayer on silver
Self-Assembled Monolayer Demonstration (7 videos)
Additional Resources: Self-Assembled Monolayer
Additional Resources: Self-Assembled Monolayer
NISENet: Exploring Fabrication - Self-Assembly: How can things build themselves?
"Exploring Fabrication - Self-Assembly" includes several full-body interactive games visitors can play to model the process of self-assembly in nature and nanotechnology. Visitors learn that self-assembly is a process by which molecules and cells form themselves into functional structures.Sweet Self-Assembly
Other Resources: Solar Steam Generation
Other Resources: Solar Steam Generation
Currently 1.1 billion people lack access to clean water and another 1.6 billion experience water shortages at least one month a year, making the purification and desalination of water a critical and constant concern. In this seminar you are going to learn about a renewable and environmentally friendly technique for producing clean water: solar steam generation using Cu nanoparticles.
Associated Materials
IOP Link to Article: "Copper nanoparticles with near-unity, omnidirectional, and broadband optical absorption for highly efficient solar steam generation"
Links to the lens and copper nanoparticles used in this demonstration are included below.
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