Carbon Nanotubes: Research and Instrumentation For Undergraduate Students
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Carbon Nanotubes: Research and Instrumentation For Undergraduate Students T. Randy Dillingham1, Tim Porter1, Tim Vail2, Cynthia Hartzell2, and Marilee Sellers3 1 Physics & Astronomy, Northern Arizona University, Box 6010, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011 2 Chemistry, Northern Arizona University, Box 5698, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011 3 Biology, Northern Arizona University, Box 5621, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011 ABSTRACT A team of faculty at Northern Arizona University (a predominantly undergraduate institution) have joined forces to develop a cross-disciplinary course for sophomore level science students in nanotechnology and the associated instrumentation with an overarching theme centered around carbon nanotubes. Research laboratories with various analytical capabilities were utilized from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics and Astronomy. Specifically, the techniques that were used included scanning electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and micro-sensor technology. The course content, the student activities and the initial experience in developing and team-teaching the course are described. INTRODUCTION Providing learning and research opportunities in nanoscience and nanotechnology for undergraduate science and engineering students is becoming increasingly important as these areas continue to rapidly expand. To address these needs, faculty at Northern Arizona University have developed a cross-disciplinary course, aimed at sophomore-level science students, in nanotechnology and the associated instrumentation. The overarching theme of the course is centered around carbon nanotubes. Research laboratories with various analytical capabilities were utilized from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics and Astronomy. Several course modules were developed that used the techniques of scanning electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and micro-sensor technology. The course content and the specific student activities are described in the following pages. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The first portion of the course covered an introduction to carbon nanotubes. Students learned the basics of carbon chemistry, including the bonding co-ordinations that lead to the different forms of carbon in nature (sheets, buckyballs, tubes, etc.).[1] Generally, this discussion was kept at a low level, owing to the sophomore-level student group, and the highly interdisciplinary cross-section of students in the course, whose backgrounds and majors ranged from biology to physics. This introduction to carbon chemistry was followed by methods of producing carbon nanotubes, including electrical discharge and chemical vapor deposition techniques. The different types of nanotubes produced by the various methods was also discussed. Patterning and functionalization of carbon nanotubes was introduced, and was followed by a brief section discussing current
and possible future applications of carbon nanotubes. This introduction to the “basics” of carbon nanotube
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