The chemistry of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles

CHED 1668

Li May Goh, lgoh2@uiuc.edu1, Jorge Pazmino1, John A. Washington1, Mitsuko Fujiwara, mfujiwar@uiuc.edu2, and Richard D. Braatz, braatz@uiuc.edu2. (1) Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 95 Roger Adams Laboratory, Box C-3, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801-3602, (2) Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Box C-3, 209 Roger Adams Laboratory, MC 712, Urbana, IL 61801
This presentation discusses interactive visualizations/simulations developed for teaching high school students about the chemistry of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles. An interactive visualization explores how successive addition of a chemical to gold nanoparticles in solution results in changes in the color of the solution, by changing the size of the gold nanoparticles. In another interactive visualization, the semiconductor titanium dioxide is illuminated with ultraviolet light to excite its electrons to higher energy levels, which results in a series of reactions that breaks down organic chemicals. A simulation is included where the students can study the reaction kinetics with respect to the concentrations of various species. A third visualization explores the chemistry of this photocatalytic process. These interactive visualizations/simulations are used to illustrate various Nano Concepts. A gateway website lists the required skills, class, and approximate completion time for each visualization/simulation.
 

Advances in Teaching Chemistry at the Nanoscale at the K-12 Level
1:30 PM-4:55 PM, Tuesday, March 27, 2007 McCormick Place North -- Room N231, Level 2, Oral

Division of Chemical Education

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007