Nanotechnology education for both students and the public is key to workforce and technology advancement and technology acceptance. Traditionally, nanotechnology is taught using aspect ratios to relate concepts of size and scale, e.g. one nanometer is 100,000 times smaller than the diameter of a strand of hair. However, this does not lend to easy comprehension of why unique properties arise from making something small. To fill the need for better education materials explaining the nanoscale and its associated properties, we have developed a hands-on activity using pedagogies of game-based learning and concept visualization that can be adjusted to comprehension level (K-12, general public, undergraduate). The goals of the activity are: i) demonstrate how surface area to volume ratio (SA:V) impacts sorption capacity; ii) introduce nanotechnology and nanoscale phenomena; iii) describe applications of nanotechnology for sorption of contaminants; and iv) demonstrate core concepts of adsorption isotherm modeling. In the activity, pompoms, representing sorbates such as contaminants in water or air, “adsorb” to Velcro-covered blocks, representing sorbents. Students compete with their choice of sorbent, one large cubic block or 8 small cubic “nano-blocks,” both having the same unit volume, to see which sorbs more pompoms. The nano-blocks collectively have enhanced adsorption capacity due to higher SA:V. Following the activity, the unique properties of nanomaterials related to size and scale are introduced. If instead of cutting the large block into 8 pieces, we cut 1 billion(109) pieces on each face, we would make nanoparticles (1027 pieces). The blocks and pompoms are used to describe applications of nanotechnology, e.g. carbonaceous nanomaterials have 30x higher sorption capacity for organic matter in water compared to granular activated carbon. Undergraduate classes can take the activity further to discuss adsorption isotherm modeling. Experiments are performed varying the “pompom concentration” to obtain data for the equilibrium adsorption capacities of the sorbents. Applying the Langmuir isotherm for monolayer adsorption graphically shows that the nano-blocks, as a representative of nanomaterials, are superior sorbents when compared to their large micro- or macro- counterparts. The nano-blocks activity is a great tool to visualize scientific concepts, and understand how nanotechnology is used and why it is beneficial for materials and environmental applications.

Playing with "nano-blocks" enables learning about environmental applications of nanotechnology

256th National Meeting (2018)

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