Nanotechnology and Biomimicry
Anne Lynn Gillian-Daniel, Ph.D.
Ben Taylor
Interdisciplinary Education Group
University of Wisconsin-Madison
“Nano” All around Us
Self-cleaning glass
VX Nano Cordless Laser
Mouse
Apparel with silver nanoparticles
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.
Exactly how small is a nanometer?
1/100th of a
meter
(centimeter)
meter
1/1000th of a
meter
(millimeter)
All these are still visible
with your eyes.
How small can you see?
A human hair is ~40 µm
One red blood cell is 6-8 µm
A micrometer (µm) is one-millionth of a meter
Nanoscale objects are 1,000 times
smaller!!!
. . . Smaller than you can see!
A nanometer (nm) is one billionth of a meter!!
Viruses
3-50 nm
DNA
1-2 nm
Nanometer:
Part of the Metric System
kilometer
km
1,000
1X103
meter
m
1
1X100
millimeter
mm 1/1,000
1X10-3
micrometer m 1/1,000,000
1X10-6
nanometer
nm
1/1,000,000,000
1X10-9
picometer
pm
1/1,000,000,000,000 1X10-12
WI is 420 km wide
11-year-old human
~ 1.4 m
Hair: ~40m
DNA: 1-2 nm
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.badradical.net
www.9calendar.com/
Smallness leads to new properties
Macro Aluminum
Color
Melting point
Strength
Conductivity
Reactivity
Macro Gold
Nano Aluminum
Nano Gold
Nature to Nanotech:
Biomimicry
What is biomimicry?
Biomimicry is imitating nature’s best ideas to
solve problems.
Nature’s inspiration
Biomimicry
Burrs
Velcro
Sharkskin
Fast Swimsuit
http://www.itsnature.org
http://sbio.uct.ac.za/Webemu/
gallery/descriptions.php
Termite Dens
Alexander Johmann/Flickr
Getty Images courtesy of
Speedo
Self-cooling Buildings
Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe , Mandy Patter,
Iridescence
Colors change depending on the angle from
which the surface is viewed
Soap Bubble
Different thicknesses (bubbles) or nano features
(peacock) create iridescence
Peacock feather close-up
Why is there iridescence in
nature?
• Attract mates or pollinators
• Camouflage
Blue Bedder
flowers
Blue Morpho Butterfly
The iridescent color is created by nanometer-sized
structures on the butterflies wing scales.
Blue Morpho Butterfly Wing
This microscope image shows the tree-like rib structures of a
cross-section of the wing.
These nano-scale ribs
reflect light to create
iridescent colors.
Scanning Electron Microscope image of the Blue
Morpho butterfly showing nanoscale features
responsible for iridescence. (Shinya Yoshioka, Osaka University)
Peacock feathers are iridescent
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.
Biomimicry of Iridescence
Biomimicry of iridescence is used for security on
currency, photo identification, and credit cards.
Biomimicry of Iridescence
Qualcomm has a new e-screen that mimics the iridescence of
the blue Morpho butterfly. The screen gets brighter in sunlight.
The Lotus Effect
Nano-scale features, along with
a waxy non-polar coating,
together create a
superhydrophobic surface. (very
water repelling)
The lotus leaf is said to be “self-cleaning” because droplets of
water roll off and remove dirt particles.
The Lotus Effect
Nano sized bumps
Biomimicry of The Lotus Effect
Self-cleaning glass had
nanostructures that prevent water
from sticking to the glass.
Lotusan paint mimics the lotus
effect’s self-cleaning properties.
Nano-tex fabric repels
liquids and stains.
Ormia Ears
Professor Nader Behdad of the
UW-Madison is an engineer who is
interested in the ears of Ormia flies
Ormia Ears
Time Difference
Time Difference
Biomimicry of Ormia Ears
Antennae
Hearing Aids
Microphones
What would inspire you in nature to
solve a human problem?
Acknowledgments
MRSEC Personnel and Collaborators
NISE Net Personnel and Collaborators
College of Engineering
National Science Foundation
• 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)
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.
Thank You
• Anne Lynn Gillian-Daniel, agillian@wisc.edu
• Ben Taylor, bltaylor2@wisc.edu
• Our Website:
www.mrsec.wisc.edu/nano