1. materials science the hybrid science chem • physics • bio • nano
April 01, 2011 • Three Rivers Community College
materials science
the hybrid science
chem • physics • bio • nano
wings, feathers, bubbles, thin films … what do these things have in common?
Jacquelynn Garofano • CRISP
CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON INTERFACE STRUCTURES & PHENOMENA
NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center

2. structure • properties • characterization processing • performance
Materials Science
structure • properties • characterization
processing • performance
Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011

3. Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011
MAKING STUFF Series
Each episode focuses on a current, overarching aspect of materials science research
STRONGER
SMALLER
CLEANER
SMARTER
Jan 19
Jan 26
Feb 02
Feb 09
Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011

4. Let’s get some perspective
The scale of things …
Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011

5. Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011
Macroscale [100 to 10-3 m]
Centimeter [1 cm = 10-2 m]
Millimeter [1 mm = 10-3 m]
Meter [1 m = 100 m]
Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011

6. Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011
Microscale [1 μm = 10-6 m]
Human hair 50 – 80 μm
Red blood cells < 8 μm
1 μm = one-millionth of a meter
Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011

7. Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011
Nanoscale [1 nm = 10-9 m]
Virus < 50 nm
DNA = 2.5 nm thick
1 nm = one-billionth of a meter
Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011

8. 1 Å = 0.1 nm = one ten-billionth of a meter
Angstrom [1 Å = m]
Atom = 0.1 – 0.3 nm
AFM image: 48 iron (Fe) atoms in a circle onto the surface of gold (Au)
1 Å = 0.1 nm = one ten-billionth of a meter
Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011

9. Nanoscale Properties
What’s unique about material properties the nanoscale?
The structure at nanoscale gives rise to properties, i.e. macroscale behavior 9
Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011

10. Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011
Iridescence
Abalone shells have three constituents that work synergistically to bring about its extraordinary toughness: bumps, glue, and bridges. Bumps called asperities cover the surface of the shell's main building material—layers of calcium carbonate or, in layman's terms, chalk (seen here). The bumps forestall any slippage of the layers when force is applied. Between these bumpy layers lie the other two key elements: a glue made of spring-like proteins that acts as a shock absorber, and tiny mineral bridges that connect the layers and are thought to add support.
Blue morpho
Abalone shell
The wings are made up of tiny scales that are comprised of even smaller ridges that causes interference of light.
Although the shell is only a few mm thick, it’s made of ~15,000+ layers of nm thin plates of mineral.
Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011

11. Pigment v Nanostructure
Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011

12. Peacock feathers Is the color due to pigment or structure?
How can we tell?
Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011

13. Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011
Thin films
The nanostructures of iridescent feathers, shells, and wings are within the UV size range (400 – 700 nm); as are thin films.
Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011

14. Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011
Soap bubbles
1 cup of water, 2 Tablespoons of glycerin, 4 Tablespoons of dish soap
Iridescent colors are observed due to interference of light rays; thickness
Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011

15. Optical interference Thin film interference is CONSTRUCTIVE
CONSTRUCTIVE interference
DESTRUCTIVE interference
Thin film interference is CONSTRUCTIVE
Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011

16. Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011
Bulk to thin film
[1]
[2]
 thin films deposited on flexible (polymer) sheets is advantageous for artichitural design
Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011

17. Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011
Take Aways
The way a material behaves on the macroscale is affected by its structure on the nanoscale
The thin film reflects light differently depending on how thick it is, so you see different colors
Scientists and engineers are trying to make new materials/devices with new technologies
Jr Laser Camp• Three Rivers Community College • April 01, 2011