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Nanotechnology and Biomimicry Anne Lynn Gillian-Daniel, Ph.D. Ben Taylor Interdisciplinary Education Group University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Nano All around Us Apparel with silver nanoparticles VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse Self-cleaning glass

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What is nanotechnology? Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter 1 to 100 nanometers in size. 1.The nanometer is extremely small. 2.At the nanometer scale, many materials behave differently. 3.We can harness this new behavior to make new materials.

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meter 1/100 th of a meter (centimeter) 1/1000 th of a meter (millimeter) Exactly how small is a nanometer? All these are still visible with your eyes.

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A micrometer (m) is one-millionth of a meter One red blood cell is 6-8 m Nanoscale objects are 1,000 times smaller!!! A human hair is ~40 m How small can you see?

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Viruses 3-50 nm DNA 1-2 nm... Smaller than you can see! A nanometer (nm) is one billionth of a meter!!

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Nanometer: Part of the Metric System kilometerkm1,0001X10 3 meterm11X10 0 millimetermm1/1,0001X10 -3 micrometer mm 1/1,000,0001X10 -6 nanometernm1/1,000,000,0001X10 -9 picometerpm1/1,000,000,000,0001X10 -12 Hair: ~40 m DNA: 1-2 nm 11-year-old human ~ 1.4 m WI is 420 km wide

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Nano Fun Facts In the time it takes to read this sentence, your fingernails will have grown approximately one nanometer (1 nm). A nm is to a meter as an eye blink is to one year. www.9calendar.com/ www.badradical.net

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Smallness leads to new properties Color Melting point Strength Conductivity Reactivity Nano Gold Macro Aluminum Nano Aluminum Macro Gold

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Nature to Nanotech: Biomimicry What is biomimicry? Biomimicry is imitating natures best ideas to solve problems.

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Natures inspiration Biomimicry http://sbio.uct.ac.za/Webemu/ gallery/descriptions.php http://www.itsnature.org Getty Images courtesy of Speedo Alexander JohmannAlexander Johmann/Flickr Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe, Mandy Patter, Creative Commons Burrs Velcro Sharkskin Fast Swimsuit Termite Dens Self-cooling Buildings

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Iridescence Colors change depending on the angle from which the surface is viewed Different thicknesses (bubbles) or nano features (peacock) create iridescence Peacock feather close-up Blue Bedder flowers Soap Bubble Why is there iridescence in nature? Attract mates or pollinators Camouflage

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Blue Morpho Butterfly The iridescent color is created by nanometer-sized structures on the butterflies wing scales.

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Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing Scanning Electron Microscope image of the Blue Morpho butterfly showing nanoscale features responsible for iridescence. ( Shinya Yoshioka, Osaka University) These nano-scale ribs reflect light to create iridescent colors. This microscope image shows the tree-like rib structures of a cross-section of the wing.

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Peacock feathers are iridescent

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Peacock feathers close up Nano size holes repeat as a pattern on the nano scale SEM of a cross section of one barbule (Zi et al, PNAS 2003.) This nanoscale pattern reflects light to create iridescent colors.

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Biomimicry of Iridescence Biomimicry of iridescence is used for security on currency, photo identification, and credit cards.

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Biomimicry of Iridescence Qualcomm has a new e-screen that mimics the iridescence of the blue Morpho butterfly. The screen gets brighter in sunlight.

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The Lotus Effect The lotus leaf is said to be self-cleaning because droplets of water roll off and remove dirt particles. Nano-scale features, along with a waxy non-polar coating, together create a superhydrophobic surface. (very water repelling)

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The Lotus Effect Nano sized bumps

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Biomimicry of The Lotus Effect Lotusan paint mimics the lotus effects self-cleaning properties. Nano-tex fabric repels liquids and stains. Self-cleaning glass had nanostructures that prevent water from sticking to the glass.

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Ormia Ears Professor Nader Behdad of the UW-Madison is an engineer who is interested in the ears of Ormia flies

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Ormia Ears Time Difference

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Biomimicry of Ormia Ears Antennae Hearing Aids Microphones

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What would inspire you in nature to solve a human problem?

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Acknowledgments MRSEC Personnel and Collaborators NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center on Nanostructured Interfaces (DMR-0520527 and DMR-0079983) NSF Internships in Public Science Education (DMR-0424350) NSF Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (ESI-053253) National Science Foundation This presentation is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under the following DMR grants: #0424350 (IPSE), #0520527 and #0779983 (MRSEC); and ESI grant #053253 Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessary reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. NISE Net Personnel and Collaborators College of Engineering

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Thank You Anne Lynn Gillian-Daniel, agillian@wisc.edu Ben Taylor, bltaylor2@wisc.edu Our Website: www.mrsec.wisc.edu/nano