CHED 866 |
| For programs that don't have ready access to microscopy there is a misconception that nanotechnology may be out of reach for undergraduate students. However, there are many systems whereby particle size can be determined via spectroscopic means and their subsequent photochemistry may be used to enhance the student experience in this area. We have attacked the incorporation of nanoparticles into our chemistry curriculum through a series of laboratory based activities that direct the student's attention towards modern applications of nanotechnology while still providing chemical fundamentals. In a series of compounds, either by applying the Brus equation or by the determination of particle size by inference via UV-Vis, estimation of nanoparticle size can be determined in an undergraduate setting. In our experiments, the band gap of the nanoparticles is first compared to the bulk samples and subsequently, the photoexcitation of these compounds is exploited in a series of chemical reactions. For example, students use nanoparticles to photodegrade halogenated substrates determining reaction products and yield through NMR, GC-MS or other techniques. These experiments and their results will be discussed. |
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Nanotechnology in Undergraduate Education
1:30 PM-5:00 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 McCormick Place North -- Room N227B, Level 2, Oral
Division of Chemical Education |