Nanotechnology for Energy

Fuel Cell Applications

The membrane in the middle may be made of nanoparticles to improve the performance of the fuel cell.

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Nanoparticles in Medicine

DNA-like molecules can be attached to gold nanoparticles. The resulting nanoparticle complex is designed to seek out and repair

or destroy diseased cells such as cancer cells.

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Nanoparticles in Medicine: Drug Delivery

The effective cancer treatment drug cisplatin can be attached to nanoparticles for delivery to cancer cells.

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Nanoparticles in Medicine: Cancer Therapy by Hyperthermia

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Gold Nanoparticles in Medicine: Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

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Imaging

X-ray contrast agent (high-Z materials)

Therapy

X-ray dose enhancement (high-Z materials)

Photothermal ablation

Gamma- and beta-radiation therapy

Environmental Applications:Nitrate and Nitrite Detection

Nanoparticles can be used to measure the concentration of

toxins in water. Here, the amount of nitrite is related to the color of

the nanoparticle solution.

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Research Project Topics for Students

• Environmental fate of nanoparticles: Where do they end up after we use them?

• Biological effects: Are any nanoparticles toxic? If so, how are they harmful?

• The future of nanoparticles: What new exciting devices or applications will nanoparticles be used for in the future?

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Online Resources for Learning About Nanoscience

National Technology Initiativehttp://www.nano.gov/education-training

Nanoscience Education Resources, New Mexico State University, Alamogordohttp://alamo.nmsu.edu/~vlombran/Nanoscience_Education_Specific_Teaching_Materials.html

National Science Foundationhttp://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/nano/

Discover Nano, Northwestern Universityhttp://www.discovernano.northwestern.edu/index_html

Rice Universityhttp://www.discovernano.northwestern.edu/index_html

The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologieshttp://www.nanotechproject.org/inventories/consumer/

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Experiments and Activities to teach Nanoscience1. How small are nano-sized objects? How can they be measured? Scale and Measurement module, Measurement of diameter of a hair

http://www.accessnano.org/teaching-modules/scale-measurement#experiment3 Measurement of a thin film of oleic acidhttp://umassk12.net/nano/materials/web2010/ Cutting it down to nano activity (can you cut a piece of paper into nanoscale sized pieces?) http://www.mrsec.wisc.edu/Edetc/IPSE/educators/cuttingNano.html

Nanosugar (based on idea that 1 sugar molecule = 1 nm): http://www.mrsec.wisc.edu/Edetc/IPSE/educators/nanoSugar.html 2. How do properties of nanomaterials differ from bulk materials? See slides “Size Matters” http://umassk12.net/nano/materials/web2010/

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a) Differences in optical properties –see Size matters slide 6 See Making Gold Nanoparticles Lab http://www.accessnano.org/teaching-modules/properties#experiment2 b) Increased surface area (increased no. of nucleation sites): Alka seltzer, cards/blocks: Size Matters activities http://umassk12.net/nano/materials/web2010/http://www.nnin.org/doc/NNIN-1058.pdf Picture of blowing light powder (flour?) over a lighter http://www.nanobionet.de/index.php?id=139&L=2&PHPSESSID=5stivm2ic28vqcg6613tafpud1 Could also heat nail and then steel wool in Bunsen burner flame Increased surface area with a tofu block http://www.trynano.org/pdf/explorenano.pdf Another example: mentos in coke c) Diffusion rates: Nanodiffusion – see gelatin diffusion experiment http://umassk12.net/nano/materials/web2010/

This presentation contains data and contributions from scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology:

Acknowledgments

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Nanomeasurements and Nanoproperties: Exploring

Nanoscience

Mary Satterfieldmary.satterfield@nist.gov