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Modern Materials
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Modern Materials, continued
Chemistry, Physics, and Modern
Materials—Multi-Demonstration Kit
By: Dr. Ainissa Ramirez
Explore and model four modern material concepts—X-ray diffraction, Nitinol wires, photoresistors, and piezoelectricity.
• Diffraction—Simulate the analytical technique of X-ray diffraction with a laser pointer and specially-prepared slides in a darkened room.
• Nitinol wires—Demonstrate the properties of a nickel-titanium metal alloy that has a “memory.” The crystal structure is easily deformed at cool temperatures. At warm temperatures the Nitinol metal contracts like a muscle and returns to its original shape.
• Photoresistors—Shine a flashlight on a photoresistor and monitor the resistance with a voltmeter—watch the decrease in resistance.
• Piezoelectricity—Tape an LED to a piezo element, strike the crystal- line material with a pencil, and watch the LED light!
Concepts: Diffraction (scattering), lasers, optical transforms.
Time Required: 30 minutes
Materials Provided: Index cards, laser pointer, optical transform slide nitinol wire, CdS photoresistors, piezo buzzer elements, LEDs.
Build a Solar Cell—Laboratory Kit
By: The Flinn Staff
General, Organic and Biological Chemistry
Solar energy, the conversion of sunlight to electricity, has enormous potential as a clean source of renewable energy. High-performance solar cells are very expensive while less expensive solar cells are not as efficient. Dye sensitized solar cells mimic the process that occurs in photosynthesis to harvest sunlight and convert it to electricity. In this activity, students build a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) and learn about the principles behind its operation.
Complete for 24 students working in groups of four.
Aerogel
Aerogels are a diverse class of the world’s lightest solid material, composed of up to 99% air by volume. This low-density, porous mate- rial is already used for insulation, high-energy radiation detectors, and oil remediation. Silica aerogel is an excellent insulator against heat and conductivity—if one side is heated, the other side will remain cool. High-quality silica aerogel is highly transparent with a light blue color due to Rayleigh scattering through the aerogel’s nanoparticle frame- work. Note: Sample is fragile and should be handled with care.
Green Chemistry: Design and Function— Blackberry Solar Cell—
Student Laboratory Kit
By: The Flinn Staff and Beyond Benign
Use fruit to build a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) and measure its elec- trical characteristics. The DSC is built using conductive glass plates as supports for the anode and the cathode. The anode is nanocrystalline tita- nium oxide that is stained with a dye to absorb visible light, and the cathode is graphite. The cell is filled with an iodine/iodide electrolyte solution that acts as a redox catalyst. This lab introduces students to a huge number of chemistry topics including materials chemistry, alternative energy, solid state chemistry, electrochemistry, sustainability, green chemistry and nano- technology. Moreover, students observe the direct application of chemistry, as they see evidence for light’s conversion to electricity. This experiment, developed in partnership with Beyond Benign, will bring chemistry from the abstract into students’ everyday world. Includes reproducible student handouts, Teacher Notes, and all necessary chemicals.
Chemistry, Physics, and Modern Materials—Multi-Demonstration Kit AP7564
Catalog No.
Description
Price/Each
AP7564
Chemistry, Physics, and Modern Materials— Multi-Demonstration Kit
$44.55
Catalog No.
Description
Price/Each
AP8043
Build a Solar Cell—Laboratory Kit
$87.90
Build a Solar Cell—Laboratory Kit AP8043
Aerogel AP7776
Catalog No.
Description
Price/Each
AP7776
Aerogel
$49.80
Complete for 24 students working in groups of 4.
Catalog No.
Description
Price/Each
AP8366
Green Chemistry: Design and Function— Blackberry Solar Cell—Student Laboratory Kit
$67.95
Green Chemistry: Blackberry Solar Cell— Student Laboratory Kit
AP8366