Clean Energy: Converting Light to Energy

Abstract:: This unit explores the issue of energy production as a pressing global issue and how nanoscience could enable important breakthroughs in energy generation and conversion. In particular, traditional and newer "nano" solar technologies are introduced and explored. Upon completing this unit, students will understand: Clean alternative energy technologies must be developed to provide sufficient energy to meet growing global demand, and must be sustainable both environmentally and economically; Nanoscience could enable important breakthroughs in solar energy technology through low cost, novel energy conversion mechanisms; Surface area to volume ratio is a function of particle size and shape. Increasing surface area normally increases the rate of reaction because there are more sites available for simultaneous reaction; Energy is neither created nor destroyed--it can only be converted into different forms. Length: 2 lessons, up to 3 50-minute classroom periods if all lessons are used. Not all lessons are required. Use the lessons most appropriate for your students.

No Strings Attached

Clear Sunscreen: How Light Interacts with Matter

Abstract:: This unit explores issues related to size and scale, specifically the effect of the size of nanopowders on the interactions of energy and matter (e.g., the absorption of light, addressing the electromagnetic spectrum and associated wavelengths). For example, old sunscreens use "large" zinc oxide particles, which block ultraviolet light but scatter visible light, giving the cream a white color. If nanopowders of zinc oxide are used instead, the cream is transparent, because the diameter of each nanoparticle is smaller than the wavelength of visible light. Upon completing this unit, students will understand: How the energies of different wavelengths of light interact differently with different kinds of matter; Why particle size can affect the optical properties of a material; That there may be health issues for nanosized particles that are undetermined at this time; That it is possible to engineer useful materials with an incomplete understanding of their properties; There are often multiple valid theoretical explanations for experimental data; to find out which one works best, additional experiments are required; How to apply their scientific knowledge to be an informed consumer of chemical products. Length: 5 lessons, up to 11 50-minute classroom periods if all lessons are used. Not all lessons are required. Use the lessons most appropriate for your students.

Evaluated

No Strings Attached

Abstract:: This unit focuses on the scarcity of safe drinking water across the world, some of the science basics of water, how water can be cleaned through a series of filtration steps, and how nanofiltration can be used as a cost-effective way to solve filtration problems. Upon completing this unit, students will understand: A shortage of clean drinking water is one of the most pressing global issues: As a result of water’s bent shape and polarity, water has unique properties, such as an ability to dissolve most substances. These properties are responsible for many important characteristics of nature; Pollutants can be separated from water using a variety of filtration methods. The smaller the particle that is to be separated from a solution, the smaller the required pore size of the filter and the higher the cost of the process; Innovations using nanotechnology to create a new generation of membranes for water filtration are designed to solve some critical problems in a cost-effective way that allows for widespread use. Length: 3 lessons, up to 7 50-minute classroom periods if all lessons are used. Not all lessons are required. Use the lessons most appropriate for your students.

No Strings Attached

Abstract:: This unit provides an introduction to nanoscience, focusing on concepts related to the size and scale, unusual properties of the nanoscale, tools of the nanosciences, and example applications. Upon completing this unit, students will understand: The study of unique phenomena at the nanoscale could vastly change our understanding of matter and lead to new questions and answers in many areas, including health care, the environment, and technology: There are enormous scale differences in our universe, and at different scales, different forces dominate and different models better explain phenomena; Nanosized materials exhibit some size-dependent effects that are not observed in bulk materials; New tools for observing and manipulating matter increase our ability to investigate and innovate. Length: 5 lessons, up to ten 50-minute classroom periods if all lessons are used. Not all lessons are required. Use the lessons most appropriate for your students.