Papers Published

1. Gimm JA; Bentley A; Farhoud M; Ellis AB; Lisensky GC; Crone WC., Video laboratory manuals and kits that explain nanoscale science and engineering concepts, ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings, vol. 3464 no. 1125 (2005), pp. 1-9 .
   (last updated on 2008/02/19)

   Abstract:
   The Interdisciplinary Education Group of the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) on Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in conjunction with the Institute for Chemical Education (ICE), has created a number of student-centered, nanotechnology- focused educational kits. Designed for high school and college level instructors and students, these kits provide the tools and background information on numerous experiments that can be used to explore nanoscale science and engineering concepts in the classroom. The kits include an exploration of the nanoworld, optical transforms, amorphous metals, solid-state models, nanocrystalline solar cells, and light emitting diodes (LEDs). To provide teachers and students with a safe, inexpensive, easily accessible introduction to nanotechnology, several laboratory modules have been also developed by the MRSEC, including a new module on the synthesis of nickel nanowires using a nanoporous template. After the synthesis procedure is completed, release of the nanowires then allows their properties to be investigated. The module has been used in a number of different types of courses ranging from a nanotechnology course for non-scientists, to a graduate-level special topics physics course. This laboratory experiment is described in more detail by Bentley et al. ¹ and has been incorporated into the UW-MRSEC Laboratory Manual for Nanoscale Science and Technology at (http://www.mrsec.wisc.edu/edetc/nanolab/ index.html). In this presentation we will focus on the nickel nanowire video lab and two kits highly relevant to materials education at the undergraduate level: the optical transform kit² and LED color strip kit.³ We will demonstrate how these relatively inexpensive educational materials can be used in the classroom to help students learn nanoscale material properties.

   Keywords:
   Nanotechnology;Students;Interfaces (materials);Light emitting diodes;Porous materials;Solar cells;Materials science;