What s the big deal about nanotechnology?

What s the big deal about nanotechnology? Featuring Research from the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Presentation by Professor Sharon Weiss Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Vanderbilt University

Topics 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?

AT&T Bat Building (188,000 mm) Basketball Player A.J. Ogilvy (2,100 mm) Quarter (24 mm) Head of a Pin (2 mm) millimeters 100,000 10,000 1,000 100 10 1 nanometers Width of Human Hair (80,000 nm) Red Blood Cell (8,000 nm) Virus (50 nanometers) DNA (2.5 nanometers)

Products Using Nanotechnology Many sunscreens contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide nanoparticles that reflect UV light Nano-Tex Nanostructures on cotton fibers repel stains, block UV rays, and prevent wrinkles (Nike, Eddie Bauer, Old Navy) Babolat VS Nanotube Drive incorporates carbon nanotubes for extra stiffness, lighter weight, bigger sweet spot BMC Pro Machine SLC01 Easton carbon nanotube technology used for 2.33 pound bike frame Wilson Double-Core balls incorporate clay polymer nanocomposites to double the lifetime of the tennis ball

Infrastructure improvements Concrete is everywhere: roads, sidewalks, houses, bridges, buildings, pipes Concrete degrades over time Imagine the possibilities Conductive concrete that could melt ice and snow Pictures taken by Prof. Sanchez around the Vanderbilt campus Robust concrete that could last for centuries

Carbon Nanofibers 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 Sanchez Civil and Environmental Engineering Vanderbilt University

Energy 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

Light 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

Colloidal Nanocrystal LEDs Use simple bench top chemistry instead of expensive equipment Emission color changes with nanocrystal size 1.5 ~ 1.7-5.2 nm?

Colloidal Nanocrystal LEDs Concept Vandy Device UV LED + Nanocrystals 1.5 nm Commercial Device (Blue LED + Yellow Phosphor) Prof. Sandy Rosenthal, Chemistry Prof. Sharon Weiss, Electrical Engineering Vanderbilt University

Solar Energy Generation The 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? Engineered solution Nature s solution Silicon solar cells max efficiency < 30% Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis Nature 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)

Engineering Using Plant Proteins to 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 Jennings Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Vanderbilt University Prof. David Cliffel Chemistry Vanderbilt University

PSI Plant Protein Calculator Potentiostat Ag/AgCl reference PSI-modified working electrode Mediator solution ITO coated glass counter electrode Pocket calculator

The Future of Energy Storage? 2011: Chevy Volt electric car 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 Imagine the possibilities Lithium ion battery pack 6 feet long, 375 pounds Charges in 8 hours (120V) 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

Nanotechnology for Improved Batteries Goal: Supercapacitor Stores more energy in smaller space and weighs less than batteries today I 0 1 = Negatively Charged Nanoparticles ( NP) = Positively Charged Nanoparticles (+ NP) Positive NP Freestanding carbon nanotube film Polymer Layer Electrode (Au) Prof. Jay Dickerson Physics & Astronomy Vanderbilt University Polymer Layer Electrode (Au)

Nanotechnology in Health Care Unexpected change in DNA sequence may indicate disease Infection (1-10,000 nm) Infectious viruses and bacteria can make you sick (human height ~1.7 billion nanometers) GOAL: Improved Health Care Faster identification and more effective localized treatment of infections and diseases

Nano -Therapeutics Drug delivery Drug discovery Fluorescent imaging Disease detection Bio-Specificity CdSe Core ZnS Shell Polymer Coating Iron Oxide Nanocrystals Dextran/Drug Y Y Y Y MAb or Proteolytic Enzyme Y Y Y Y 1 hour after infection Prof. David Cliffel, Chemistry Prof. Todd Giorgio, Biomedical Engineering Vanderbilt University Prof. Sandy Rosenthal, Chemistry Prof. David Wright, Chemistry Vanderbilt University

Nano -Diagnostics DNA sequencing can identify people s genetic code and determine whether they are likely to develop a specific disease in the future T A G G Particle Detection, Sizing, Surface Charge Density C C Ionic Current τ Δi When DNA base passes through nano-hole or nano-channel, a distinct ionic current is produced that identifies the particular base Time Prof. Deyu Li Mechanical Engineering Vanderbilt University

Nano -Diagnostics Enable more sensitive, accurate, and faster detection of infections 10,000x ~ 10 mm 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 ~ 0.0005 mm Prof. Sharon Weiss Electrical Engineering Vanderbilt University

For 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

Acknowledgements 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)