Overview
Description:
“Nanoparticle Stained Glass” is a cart demonstration that introduces the connection between medieval stained glass artisans and nanotechnology. Visitors learn that the red and yellow colors in stained glass windows come from nanoparticles of gold and silver embedded in the glass. During the program, visitors listen to a short presentation, and then have the opportunity to participate in two hands-on activities: making a collaborative stained glass window with pre-made nanoparticle solutions containing silver or gold and making a take-away card that contains a small piece of nanoparticle stained “glass”.
Checklist
Scientist reviewed?
Peer reviewed?
Visitor evaluation?
Permissions
Creative Commons
Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
Standards
History and nature of science:
K-4: Science as a human endeavor
5-8: History of science
5-8: Nature of science
5-8: Science as a human endeavor
9-12: Historical perspectives
9-12: Science as a human endeavor
Physical science:
K-4: Light, heat, electricity, and magnetism
K-4: Properties of objects and materials
5-8: Properties and changes of properties in matter
9-12: Chemical reactions
9-12: Structure and properties of matter
9-12: Structure of atoms
Science and Technology:
K-4: Abilities of technological design
K-4: Understanding about science and technology
5-8: Abilities of technological design
5-8: Understanding about science and technology
9-12: Abilities of technological design
9-12: Understanding about science and technology
Resources
Files:
Links:
Video:
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NanoDays--sculpture and demo of gold nanoparticle synthesis
For NanoDays this year, we did the the collaborative suspended sculpture extension to this program. It made a really striking installation for our lobby. During the day, we let kids add pieces of "stained glass" to the sculpture. In addition, we had a scientist demonstrating the process of synthesizing gold nanoparticles. Since the stock solutions were made up ahead of time, this was pretty easy to do on the floor. At all times, visitors could see the colorless solutions before we started, and could see the reddish-purple solution after the colloidal gold formed. We kept a couple flasks going at once, so that it would never be long before visitors could see the moment of the color change. If no one was around, we pre-warmed the solutions just to the point before the color would change and took it off the heat. Then, when a visitor arrived, we could quickly start the process. FAQ: How much is that worth? How much did the gold cost? We calculated the answer per flask.