The Nanoscience and Technology Teaching-Learning Tool Kit consists of the following subsets; activities to understand and visualize nanoscale and nanotechnology, a model nano-laboratory that demonstrates the real-world applications of nanotechnology, simple experiments that help students to synthesize nanomaterials, nanotechnology model building activity, and nanotechnology in nature activity. Each subset comprises games and models to demonstrate the basic concepts of nanotechnology.
Dimensions of the nanoscience and nanotechnology teaching-learning toolkit:
The nanoscience and technology toolkit was developed as a portable, easy-to-handle, low-weight toolkit. See Table 1 for the dimensions of the toolkit.
Table 1
Dimensions of the nanoscience and nanotechnology toolkit
Item | Length (cm) | Width (cm) | Height (cm) | Weight (g) |
Rubik’s Cube | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 80 |
Nano Card Pack | 6.2 | 8.8 | - | 65 |
Word Puzzle | 30 | 30 | - | 4.5 |
Board Game | 25.4 | 25.4 | - | 3.2 |
Nanohome | 45 | 40 | 30 | 1350 |
BuckyBall Template | 15 | 15 | - | 1 |
Carbon Nanotube Puzzle | 10 | 10 | - | 20 |
Nano-experiment kit | 15 | 20 | 12 | 250 |
User Guide | 21 | 29.7 | 2 | 110 |
Total | | | | 1883.7 |
1. Activities to understand and visualize the nano-size:
The tool kit has been designed in order to impart an understanding of the size scale and how the surface area to volume ratio changes with size, which is the fundamental concept behind nanoscience. As stated before, objects and concepts at the nanoscale are hard to visualize, difficult to describe, abstract, and their relationships to the observable world can be counter-intuitive.
a. Simple activities to understand the nano-scale:
I. Measuring the diameter of human hair:
Students are provided with an electron microscopic image of a human hair with the exact size scale. They measure the diameter of a human hair using a measuring ruler and compare the nanometer scale to their measurement. Here, they will learn the conversion between different size scales.
II. Increase of surface area to volume ratio at the nanolevel:
Students are provided with a large cube containing detachable cubes. Using the real-time measurements students will construct the surface area/volume ratio vs particle size curve to understand the noticeable change in the surface area/volume ratio at the magic point of 100 nm.
b. What is the nanometer scale? - Rubik’s cube activity:
As one of the first steps in introducing nanotechnology concepts to students, an activity based on a Rubik’s cube (Fig. 1) is included. After completing the activity students will have a clear understanding of ‘how to classify the things in the real world based on their size’ ultimately leading them to a fundamental understanding of the size scale of a ‘nanometer’. The Rubik’s cube contains pictures of macro, micro, nano and atomic-scale objects, and their dimensions. Students will organize the cube to get similar scale objects together to one face. This exercise will train the students to visualize and familiarise themselves with the size scale by taking them through an interesting journey of playing a brain-teasing game.
c. Nano Card Pack:
Students are provided with 32 cards (Fig. 2) containing information about synthetic and natural nanomaterials, their applications, properties, and important events and people in the development of nanotechnology. Each team has 6 players and they should match the nanoparticle to its properties and applications or the important historical events to the person and his image.
d. Nano Word puzzle:
Interactive word puzzle (Fig. 3) that helps to familiarise with the terminology, natural concepts, history, and applications of nanotechnology. Students have to circle the right answer for each of the questions by spotting the correct answer on the puzzle.
e. Nano Board Game:
A board game that is inspired by the “Snake and Ladder” board game was created for students in order to get an idea of the objects in the nanoworld, micro world, and macro world. The basic principle of surface area to volume ratio increases when something goes to the nano level underlay throughout this game. Micro and macro objects are placed in the faces of the snakes and the ladders start with the nano-objects (Fig. 4). The rules of the game are similar to that of a typical snake and ladder game.
2. A model nano-laboratory which demonstrate the real-world applications of nanotechnology:
This teaching-learning aid, a nano-laboratory is designed as a portable and detachable kit where the teacher can demonstrate the activities easily and in an interactive manner. This teaching-learning aid has been constructed by a 3-D printing technique where layer by layer assembling leads to the formation of the 3-D structure, See Fig. 5.
The following concepts are demonstrated in the toolbox:
-
Roof Top contents (see Fig. 6)
-
A rooftop equipped with a garden that uses smart fertilizer and seed coatings
-
A swimming pool that is self-cleaning: Students could visualize the lotus effect and dust-free nature of the pool.
-
Nano TiO2-based solar cell – concept has introduced
-
A car with self-cleaning paint
2. Inside the laboratory (see Fig. 8)
Demonstration samples (Fig. 7) of
-
Optical nanoparticles – Au and Ag
-
Carbon-based nanomaterials - CNT
-
Superhydrophobic nanoparticles – Silica
-
Photocatalytic nanoparticles – ZnO and TiO2
-
Ferromagnetic nanomaterials – Fe3O4
-
Industrially important natural minerals useful for the production of nanomaterials are demonstrated.
Applications of nanotechnology
-
Homemade water filter containing coconut coir based activated carbon (Fig. 9)
-
A lady scientist wearing a self-cleaning lab coat
-
A first aid box containing homemade clay-curcumin encapsulated antibacterial cream
-
Replicas of slow-release drugs (Fig. 9)
-
Nanotechnology-based cosmetics (Fig. 9)
-
A locally produced dye-sensitized solar-cell is fixed into the roof and used to light an LED bulb
Figure 9: Nano cosmetics, First-Aid box with Nanomedicine, Nano water filter
3. Natural nano-concepts
4. History of nanotechnology
3. Simple experiments that help students to synthesize nanomaterials:
This tool kit is equipped with a number of experiments that offer hands-on experiences to students. Few of these experiments are adapted from recent publications in nanotechnology (Author, 2017; Author, 2020; Author, 2014; Author, 2018). Materials needed for each of the experiments together with the instructions are provided in the toolkit. Most of the experiments are designed to demonstrate the possibility of using locally available materials to synthesize advanced nanostructures and to understand their properties.
i. Size dependence of light scattering properties - Tyndall experiment:
Students are provided with a colloidal dispersion (milk), ionic solution (kitchen salt), and a nano-dispersion. The scattering pattern of a laser beam through the solution is studied. Students understand how the interaction between laser light and the particles provides approximate information on the particle size.
ii. Graphene circuit:
Students are guided to design an electric circuit using a dark pencil line to complete the pathway. A thin pencil line consists of several layers of graphene (0.5 nm thick layers) and it has a high electric conductivity. This experiment demonstrates even a few layers of graphene is sufficient to create an electric circuit thus students understand that electric properties are enhanced when the nano-level is reached (https://www.nisenet.org/nano)
iii. Liquid magnet:
Fe2+/Fe3+ solution and other materials needed to make a ferrofluid are provided as a demonstration pack. Students synthesize iron oxide nanoparticles dispersion and initially observe how agglomeration of particles occurs. Then, the surface modifies the particles in order to stabilize the synthesized nanoparticles. Magnetic behavior is studied using a simple magnet.
iv. Synthesis of gold nanoparticles:
Students are provided with a gold/silver salt and other ingredients needed to synthesize nanoparticles. By changing the synthesis parameters students synthesize the rainbow colors of nanomaterials. These experiments explain the change in optical properties with size.
v. Synthesis of urea-hydroxyapatite nanohybrids:
The chemicals and reagents needed to synthesize Urea-Hydroxyapatite hybrids are provided to students. They are asked to synthesize hydroxyapatite nanoparticles first and then move into synthesizing Urea-Hydroxyapatite nanohybrids. This will give students a clearer idea of how to derive hybrids based on nanoparticles. After the completion of the experiment, students are asked to find more examples of other nanohybrids that have been developed by scientists.
4. Nanotechnology model building activity:
a. Let’s make a buckyball:
Students get hands-on experience to make a buckyball using a simple schematic diagram. A printed template is given to the students where they can cut the hexagons and arrange it to form the buckyball. The teacher will give the basic introduction on the steps to build the buckyball and in the template, the way students should start building it is marked with numbers.
b. Let’s make a carbon nanotube:
Students are provided with a 30-piece 3D printed puzzle purchased commercially. When they complete the puzzle students will get to see an image of a carbon nanotube as the end result.
5. Nanotechnology in nature activity:
Students are instructed to explore the instances where nanotechnological effects could be seen in nature.
a. Nanotechnology in plants: Lotus leaf effect activity
A lotus leaf is given to students and they are asked to drop water on the surface of the leaf with the use of a dropper/spatula (Fig. 11). Each student should tell the teacher their observation. After the activity teacher will explain the nanotechnological concepts behind the lotus leaf effect.
b. Nanotechnology in Animals: Gecko and spider web effect
The teacher is provided with Scanning Electron Micrograph images of gecko hands and a spider web. These images should be displayed to students and teachers should try to get the answers from students by asking appropriate questions and raising their curiosity. Then the teacher will explain the basic nanotechnological concepts behind these effects.
The teaching-learning toolkit is equipped with a CD and a user manual in the native language, Sinhala and English.
Deployment of the nanoscience and nanotechnology teaching-learning toolkit:
In order to investigate the teachers’ and students’ responses to this nanoscience and nanotechnology toolkit, 25 + workshops/seminars were conducted in schools for high school students under the patronage of the National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka. Teachers and students were given hands-on-experience in teaching and learning nanotechnology using this toolkit.