Cornerstone Christian School Discovers The Link Between Chemistry and Nano

The National Center for Earth and Environmental Science (NanoEarth) hosted 10 high school students, 2 teachers, and 3 parents from Cornerstone Christian School out of Harrisonburg, VA. Students spent the morning touring Virginia Tech’s Nanoscale Characterization and Fabrication Laboratory (NCFL) and then headed to see the rest of Virginia Tech’s campus.

NCFL Focused Ion Beam (FIB) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Laboratory Manager, Jarret Wright welcomed students and provided a brief overview of the facility and the wide variety of research it supports. He explained the importance of shared research facilities such as the NCFL to provide advanced instrumentation that individual researchers could not manage on their own. Participants then toured four different labs in the NCFL.

VT Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology Laboratory (VT SuN) Director, Weinan Leng, Ph.D., discussed surface analysis using the XPS: X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. This talk included the basic principles, history, operation and types of research that can be done on the XPS. To look at the elements on different surfaces, they completed survey scans on a rock, a Euro 10 cent coin, and a United States penny.

NCFL Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) Instrumentation Laboratory Manager, Hongyu Wang, Ph.D., guided students into the history of TEM, the TEM’s role in studying nanomaterials such as the COVID-19 antigen tests, and the evolution of microscopy. Students learned how to prepare samples for observation, gained hands-on experience with a TEM holder, and captured high-resolution images of gold nanoparticles.

NCFL Instrument Specialist Steve McCartney, gave an introduction to secondary electron images, backscatter electron images, and x-ray dispersive spectroscopy. They imaged Mars soil simulant, mold, insects, and butterfly wings using the SEM. Students finished the session by running the scope themselves.

NanoEarth’s Postdoctoral Associate, Bipin Lade, Ph.D., led participants through NISE NanoDays kits and discussed his background and current research. Students learned about the nanoscale, innovative ways to remove microplastics from water, and the interaction of nanomaterials with the earth and environment. He then talked about the inner plastic lining of aluminum cans and how they might possibly release micro and nano plastics. This led into two interactive nano demonstration kits.; nano fabric and ferrofluid. Students learned how the properties at a nanoscale can change how it is observed on the macroscale, with water resistant nano fabric and magnetic ink with ferrofluid. 

Cornerstone Christian School teacher Carol Clark described the visit, “It was way more remarkable than I had even imagined it would be. The day underscored our learning this year in Chemistry and in general science knowledge overall. I think our minds were blown! The staff had exceptional knowledge and a clear love of their subject, and they shared it enthusiastically. Additionally, they were warm and accepting of all of the students' questions. Having seen that passion in these professionals is even more important to our young students than the information they walked away with. My aim for teaching Chemistry to students is to make the subject matter relevant and accessible. Between the science we learned, the staff's gracious reception of us, and how the work at NanoEarth is affecting our world, we hit all the markers of success for our class yesterday.”