Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-2lccl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T08:54:37.248Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Development of nanotechnology experimental modules using ferrofluids for high school classrooms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 June 2013

Nitin Chopra ,
Wenwu Shi ,
Nikita R. Peramsetty  and
Victoria L. Evans
Nitin Chopra*
Affiliation:
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, Center for Materials for Information Technology (MINT), The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, U.S.A. Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, U.S.A.
Wenwu Shi
Affiliation:
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, Center for Materials for Information Technology (MINT), The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, U.S.A.
Nikita R. Peramsetty
Affiliation:
Holy Spirit Catholic High School, 601 James I. Harrison Pkwy, Tuscaloosa, Al 35405, U.S.A
Victoria L. Evans
Affiliation:
High School Physics Teacher, Northridge High School, 2901 Northridge Road, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406, U.S.A.
*
*Corresponding Author E mail: nchopra@eng.ua.edu, Tel: 205-348-4153, Fax: 205-348-2164
Get access

Abstract

Nanotechnology and nanoscience have a strong potential to impact society and the commercial sector. It is critical to introduce this area to high school classrooms as a teaching tool. Here, we report the development of ferrofluid-based experimental modules in a team effort including a high school student and a high school teacher. The basic experimental modules were developed as follows: A) Electric motor-based patterning of magnetic nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes on a silicon wafer. Electromagnetically activated or ‘spiked’-ferrofluid was utilized here. B) Basic concepts of wettability, hydrophobicity, and oleophilicity were demonstrated by combining hydrophobic CNTs, water, and ferrofluids. C) Finally, the utility of ferrofluid-based environmental remediation was demonstrated for oil removal from oil-water mixture and organic dye separation from water-dye mixture. It is envisioned that the integration of the developed experimental modules into high school curriculum will motivate high school students to pursue degrees in science, engineering, and nanotechnology. Thus, this will assist in the development of future workforce in the area of nanotechnology and materials science.

Keywords

educationnanostructuremagnetic
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1583: Symposium EEE – Materials Education—Toward a Lab-to-Classroom Initiative , 2013 , mrss13-1583-eee01-04
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Baxter, J., Bian, Z., Chen, G., Danielson, D., Dresselhaus, M. S., Fedorov, A. G., Fisher, T. S., Jones, C. W., Maginn, E., Kortshagen, U., Manthiram, A., Nozik, A., Rolison, D. R., Sands, T., Shi, L., Sholl, D., Wu, Y., Energy Environ. Sci. 2, 559 (2009).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mauter, M. S., Menachem, E, Environ. Sci. Technol. 42, 5843 (2008).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boisselier, E., Didier Astruc, A., Chem. Soc. Rev. 38, 1759 (2009).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rao, C. N. R., Cheetham, A. K., J. Mater. Chem. 11, 2887 (2001).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brugger, J., Nanotechnology 20, 430206 (2009).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
The Royal society, “Nanoscience and nanotechnologies: opportunities and uncertainties, ” London, (2004).Google Scholar
Geim, A. K., Novoselov, K. S., Nat. Mater. 6, 183 (2007).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hu, M., Chen, J., Li, Z., Au, L, Hartland, G. V., Li, X., Marquez, M., Xia, Y., Chem. Soc. Rev. 35, 1084 (2006).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Corma, A., Garcia, H., Chem. Soc. Rev. 37, 2096 (2008).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roco, M. C., J. Nanopart. Res. 3, 353 (2001).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chopra, N., Shi, W., Evans, V. L., J. Nano Educ. 4, 8 (2013).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roco, M. C., Int. J. Eng. Educ. 18, 1 (2002).Google Scholar
Chopra, N., Shi, W., Bansal, A., Carbon 49, 3645 (2011).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sun, R.D., Nakajima, A., Fujishima, A., Watanabe, T., Hashimoto, K., J. Phys. Chem. B 105, 1984 (2001).CrossRefGoogle Scholar