Nanotechnology Principles Lab: Synthesis of Nanoparticles

Description:
This Nanotechnology Principles Lab: Synthesis of Nanoparticles is provided by SHINE: Seattle's Hub for Industry-driven Nanotechnology Education. The "lab consists of activities designed to teach students about the synthesis and applications of gold and silver nanoparticles." Learning Outcomes are provided for two of the three lab activities included.

Learning outcomes for Gold Nanoparticle Sensor lab:

• To understand and use a bottom-up approach for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles
• To observe the effect of size on optical properties of gold nanoparticles
• To create and test a gold nanoparticle-based "salt sensor"
• To use this nanoparticle-based sensor to detect the presence of salt in a series of unknowns

Learning outcomes for Silver Nanoparticle Antimicrobial Properties lab:

• Understand that chemical, biological, and physical properties of materials change at the nanoscale
• Perform a controlled experiment to study the properties of silver nanoparticles including color and antibacterial properties
• Understand the reaction taking place to synthesize silver nanoparticles
• Become aware of the ethical debate surrounding nanotechnology and nano-enhanced products

Contents:
This collection of resources includes a Nanoparticle Synthesis and Applications PowerPoint presentation, three lab activities, and data safety sheets. 

The Nanoparticle Synthesis and Applications presentation covers topics such as silver nanoparticles, silver nanoparticle products, ethics, the color of gold, salt censors, gold nanoparticles, other gold nanoparticle uses, and more.

The three labs included are Antimicrobrial Properties of Nanoparticles, Gold Nanoparticle Sensor, and Stained Glass. Labs may include learning outcomes, Washington EALR Alignment; Oregon Content Standards Alignment; background information; lists of applications, vocabulary, and materials needed; safety information; pre-lab preparations; pre-lab procedures; pre-lab questions, and more.  

For orientation purposes SHINE_Antimicrobrial Properties of Nanoparticles Lab.pdf is included as a separate attachment and offers a sample of the type of material included in this curriculum. 

Below is a list of the files contained within the .zip attachment. The size of each file is included in parenthesis. 

Synthesis of Nanoparticles (8 files, 5.7 MB)

• Antimicrobial Properties of Nanoparticles (SHINE_Antimicrobial Properties of Nanoparticles Lab.pdf 484 KB)
• Antimicrobial Properties of Nanoparticles Safety Data Sheets (SDS) (SHINE_Antimicrobial Properties of Nanoparticles SDS.pdf 1.1 MB)
• Gold Nanoparticle Sensor  (SHINE_Gold Nanoparticle Sensor Lab.pdf 416 KB)
• Gold Nanoparticle Sensor Safety Data Sheets (SDS) (SHINE_Gold Nanoparticle Sensor SDS.pdf 925 KB)
• Nanoparticle Synthesis and Applications (SHINE_Lectures_Gold and Siver Nanoparticle Synthesis.pptx 552 KB)
• Chemistry and Art Nanoparticles in Stained Glass Pre-Lab Assignment (SHINE_Nanoparticles in Stained Glass Lab.pdf 1.1 MB)
• Nanoparticle Stained Glass Safety Data Sheets (SDS) (SHINE_Nanoparticles in Stained Glass SDS.pdf 1.1 MB)