what’s the big deal about...

What’s the big deal about nanotechnology?

Featuring Research from the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering

Presentation by Professor Sharon WeissDepartment of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Vanderbilt University

Sharon M. Weiss

Topics of DiscussionTopics of Discussion

• Just how small is “nano”?• How does nanotechnology affect me now?• How might nanotechnology impact my life in

the future?– Roads and bridges– Light bulbs, solar energy, batteries– Health

• How can I learn more about nanotechnology?

Sharon M. Weiss

AT&T “Bat” Building(188,000 mm)

Basketball PlayerA.J. Ogilvy(2,100 mm)

Quarter(24 mm)

Head of a Pin(2 mm)

Width of Human Hair(80,000 nm)

Red Blood Cell(8,000 nm)

Virus(50 nanometers)

DNA(2.5 nanometers)

1101001,00010,000100,000

nanometers

millimeters

Sharon M. Weiss





Sharon M. Weiss

Products Using NanotechnologyProducts Using Nanotechnology

Many sunscreens contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide nanoparticles that

reflect UV light

Babolat VS Nanotube Driveincorporates carbon nanotubesfor extra stiffness,lighter weight,bigger sweet spot

Wilson Double-Core ballsincorporate clay polymer nanocomposites to double the lifetime of the tennis ball

Nano-TexNanostructures on cotton fibers repel stains, block

UV rays, and prevent wrinkles (Nike, Eddie

Bauer, Old Navy)

BMC Pro Machine SLC01Easton carbon nanotube

technology used for 2.33 pound bike frame

Sharon M. Weiss





Sharon M. Weiss

Infrastructure improvementsInfrastructure improvements

Conductive concrete that could melt ice and snow

Robust concrete that could last for centuries

Imagine the possibilities…• Concrete is everywhere:roads, sidewalks, houses, bridges, buildings, pipes

• Concrete degrades over time

Pictures taken by Prof. Sanchez around the Vanderbilt campus

Sharon M. Weiss

Carbon Carbon NanofibersNanofibers Improve Concrete Improve Concrete • Carbon nanotubes are ~100 times stronger than steel• Carbon nanotubes can conduct electricity

500 nm

Rebar is one of main causes of concrete

structural degradation

“Nano-rebar” made of carbon nanotubes and

nanofibers can increase durability of concrete

Prof. Florence SanchezCivil and Environmental EngineeringVanderbilt University

Sharon M. Weiss

Energy Efficiency, Generation, & StorageEnergy Efficiency, Generation, & Storage• Energy efficiency

– Enable appliances, light sources, televisions to use less electricity

• Energy generation– Develop new methods to create energy without

relying on coal and fossil fuels– Solar, wind, water, nuclear, biomass

• Energy storage– Develop methods to store excess energy

for use at a later time– Longer lifetime and lighter weight batteries

Sharon M. Weiss

Light Emitting DiodesLight Emitting Diodes• LEDs use less energy and last longer than other lights• Colored LEDs currently used in many applications,

including display signs and traffic lights• White LEDs are an emerging technology

– Cost 2x more than incandescent lamps, 10x more than fluorescents

Signs on Times Square use millions of LEDs

Sharon M. Weiss

1.5

?

Colloidal Nanocrystal Colloidal Nanocrystal LEDsLEDs• Use simple bench top chemistry

instead of expensive equipment

• Emission color changes with nanocrystal size

~ 1.7 - 5.2 nm

Sharon M. Weiss

Colloidal Nanocrystal Colloidal Nanocrystal LEDsLEDs

Concept Vandy DeviceUV LED + Nanocrystals

Commercial Device(Blue LED + Yellow Phosphor)

1.5 nm

Prof. Sandy Rosenthal, ChemistryProf. Sharon Weiss, Electrical Engineering

Vanderbilt University

Sharon M. Weiss

Solar Energy GenerationSolar Energy GenerationThe sun delivers more energy to the earth in one hour

than is consumed by all people on the planet in one year

How can we capture and use this energy?

Silicon solar cellsmax efficiency < 30%

Engineered solution Nature’s solution

Photosynthesis

Sharon M. Weiss

PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesisNature’s 90 Trillion Watt Solar Energy Conversion System

• Photosystem I is a 10 nm protein complex in green plants • >97% efficiency (based on captured photons of light)

Sharon M. Weiss

Engineering Using Plant Proteins Engineering Using Plant Proteins to Create Solar Energyto Create Solar Energy

A solar cell based on PSI:

Light causes current to flow from PSI around a circuit to be used as electrical power.

Prof. Kane JenningsChemical & Biomolecular

EngineeringVanderbilt University

Prof. David CliffelChemistryVanderbilt University

Sharon M. Weiss

PSI Plant Protein CalculatorPSI Plant Protein Calculator

Potentiostat

Mediator solution

PSI-modified working electrode

ITO coated glass counter electrode

Pocket calculator

Ag/AgClreference

Sharon M. Weiss

The Future of Energy Storage?The Future of Energy Storage?

• Runs solely on electric power for 40 miles with a full battery charge

• Costs 2¢ per mile to drive on electricity, and uses less electricity annually than a refrigerator

• Reduce weight of Volt battery packs for same energy storage capacity by ¼ in next decade

• Laptop batteries that are lighter weight and last longer

Lithium ion battery pack• 6 feet long, 375 pounds• Charges in 8 hours (120V)

2011: Chevy Volt – electric car

Imagine the possibilities…

Sharon M. Weiss

Nanotechnology for Improved BatteriesNanotechnology for Improved Batteries

I0 1

= Negatively Charged Nanoparticles (— NP)

= Positively ChargedNanoparticles (+ NP)

Polymer LayerElectrode (Au)

Positive NP

Electrode (Au)Polymer Layer

Goal: SupercapacitorStores more energy in smaller space and weighs less than batteries today

Freestanding carbon nanotube film

Prof. Jay DickersonPhysics & AstronomyVanderbilt University

Sharon M. Weiss

Nanotechnology in Health CareNanotechnology in Health Care

Infection (1-10,000 nm)

GOAL: Improved Health CareFaster identification and more effective localized treatment of

infections and diseases

Unexpected change in DNA sequence may

indicate disease

Infectious viruses and bacteria can make you sick

(human height ~1.7 billion nanometers)

Sharon M. Weiss

““NanoNano””--TherapeuticsTherapeutics

1 hour after infection

Drug delivery

Drug discovery

Fluorescent imaging

Disease detection

CdSe CoreZnS ShellPolymer Coating

Bio-Specificity

Iron OxideNanocrystals

Dextran/Drug

Iron OxideNanocrystals

Dextran/Drug

YY

YY

YY

YY

MAb orProteolyticEnzyme

YY

YY

YY

YY

YY

YY

YY

YY

MAb orProteolyticEnzyme

Prof. Sandy Rosenthal, ChemistryProf. David Wright, Chemistry


Prof. David Cliffel, ChemistryProf. Todd Giorgio,

Biomedical EngineeringVanderbilt University

Sharon M. Weiss

““NanoNano””--DiagnosticsDiagnostics

Particle Detection, Sizing, Surface Charge Density

Ioni

c C

urre

nt

Time

Δi

τIoni

c C

urre

nt

Time

Δi

τ

DNA sequencing can identify people’s genetic code and determine whether they are likely to develop a

specific disease in the future

When DNA base passes through nano-hole or nano-channel, a distinct ionic current is produced that identifies the particular base

T

A

G

G

C

C

Prof. Deyu LiMechanical Engineering


Sharon M. Weiss

““NanoNano””--DiagnosticsDiagnostics

Prof. Sharon WeissElectrical EngineeringVanderbilt University

~ 10 mm

~ 0.0005 mm

Enable more sensitive, accurate, and faster detection of infections

10,000x

• Imagine being able to place a porous silicon sensor on top of a wound and know within seconds if it is infected

• Imagine exposing your fresh vegetables, nuts, or meats to a porous silicon sensor and knowing instantaneously whether the food is contaminated

Sharon M. Weiss





Sharon M. Weiss

For More InformationFor More Information……

• General nanotechnology information– http://www.nano.gov– http://www.nanotech-now.com– http://www.howstuffworks.com

• Vanderbilt University research– http://www.vanderbilt.edu/vinse

Sharon M. Weiss

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements• VINSE Researchers

– David Cliffel, Jay Dickerson, Todd Giorgio, Kane Jennings, Deyu Li, Sandy Rosenthal, Florence Sanchez, David Wright

• Nashville Adventure Science Center– Sharon Mendonsa (Educational Team Leader)

• Vanderbilt Students– Vanderbilt-Fisk Student Chapter of the Materials Research

Society (Jon Gosnell, President) – Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science (VSVS)

• Nanoscale Informal Science Education (NISE) Network• National Science Foundation, Army Research Office

(Weiss research funding)

Sharon M. Weiss

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