WEEK 8: Unit 8

In Dr. Gimzewski's lectures he spoke about the prefix "nano" and the different ways it is used in science. A nano is 10^9, so it is very very small (~1000x smaller than a red blood cell). The topic I found most interesting was the nanoparticle market. Nanoparticles are sized between 1 and 100 nanometers. The reason scientists know about these particles today is because of the invention of the scanning tunneling microscope, whereas before, molecules looked more like an electron cloud. 

One example of nanoparticle discoloration is the Roman Lycurgus Cup. The cup can still be seen at the British Museum and demonstrates the unique feature of changing color depending upon the light in which it is viewed. It appears green when viewed in reflected light, but looks red when a light is shone from inside and is transmitted through the glass. Analysis of the glass reveals that it contains a very small amount of tiny metal crystals containing Ag and Au. It is the presence of these nanoparticles that gives the Lycurgus Cup its special color display (Liz-Marzán). 





The same effect was also found in Italian pottery in the 15th & 16th centuries. Another art form that uses nanoparticle technology are stain glass windows. The color of the windows is changed based on the size of the nanoparticles. So, in a way medival artists were the very first nanotechnologists!







Sources:


“Art in the Age of Nanotechnology.” Artabase. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. 

Chan, Chi. "From Nanotech to Nanoscience." Chemical Heritage Foundation. Chemical Heritage Foundation, 2010. Web. 24 May 2015.

“Introduction to Nanotechnology.” Introduction to Nanotechnology RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. 

Liz-Marzán, Luis M. "Nanometals: formation and color." Materials today 7.2 (2004): 26-31.

“What Is Nanotechnology?” What Is Nanotechnology? N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2012.