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Biomimicry: Synthetic Gecko Tape through Nanomolding

[1] : Facilitated activity [2]

Biomimicry: Synthetic Gecko Tape through Nanomolding

Download all files (zip) [3]  

Overview
Biomimicry: Synthetic Gecko Tape through Nanomolding
Rashmi Nanjundaswamy [4]
NISE Network product
image/gif iconSEM_of_Synthetic_Gecko_Tape.gif [5]

Description: 

This hands-on activity will guide you in making a synthetic gecko tape with micron sized hairs that mimics that behavior of the gecko foot. The process is called "nanomolding." Also described is an easy setup using Legos for testing how much weight the gecko tape can hold. Significant amount of research is ongoing in the field of synthetic Gecko tape due to its wide variety of applications. This program gives a glimpse of one of the methods used by researchers for making a synthetic gecko tape and its properties.
Objectives

Big Idea: 

The toes of a gecko are divided into nanoscale hair-like structures. When a gecko places its foot on the wall and curls its toes, these nanoscale structures interact with the wall on the atomic level. The forces (van-der-waals forces) between the nano-structured hairs of the gecko foot and the atoms of the wall are strong enough to hold up the gecko. Scientists are working to make materials that use gecko-like nano-structures for adhesion.

Learning goals: 

  • Define biomimicry: Imitating nature’s best ideas to solve human problems
  • Recognize that gecko feet have structures small enough to be measured in nanometers, or billionths of a meter, that allow them to climb vertical surfaces as well as hang upside down on ceilings.
  • Understand that nanoscale hairs are able to interact with the atoms of the surface the gecko is climbing on.
  • Understand that scientists are researching man-made materials that mimic the properties of the gecko foot.

NISE Net Content Map: 

  • Nanoscience, nanotechnology, and nanoengineering lead to new knowledge and innovations that weren't possible before.

Universal design: 

  • Repeat and reinforce main ideas and concepts.
  • Provide physical and sensory access to all aspects of the program. Visitors can touch, see and hear different elements of the program.
Credits

Developed for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Numbers 0532536 and 0940143. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

Funding: 

The gecko tape research by Prof. Fearing was sponsored by NSF NIRT (2003-2008) and NSF Center of Integrated Nanomechanical Systems at University of California, Berkeley

Owning institution:

Lawrence Hall of Science [6]

Checklist

Scientist reviewed? check_reviewed
Peer reviewed? check_reviewed
Visitor evaluation? check_reviewed

Adaptable Formats

Classroom activity [7]
Facilitated activity [2]
Game [8]

Nano Topics

[9], [10]

Audience

[11]

Tags

[12], [13], [14], [15], [16]

Permissions

Creative Commons license image [17]
Creative Commons
Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike

Catalog section: 

Programs

What kind of program?: 

Facilitated activity

Adaptable formats: 

Classroom activity
Facilitated activity
Game

Nano topics: 

Fundamentals
Materials, tools, and applications

Audience: 

7 and up

Content keywords: 

gecko
gecko tape
van-der waals forces
nanomolding
Van der Waals forces

Highlight this product during NanoDays?: 

0

K-12: 

This product would be useful for K-12 teachers.
Standards

Science and Technology: 

K-4: Abilities of technological design
K-4: Abilities to distinguish between natural objects and objects made by humans
5-8: Abilities of technological design
9-12: Abilities of technological design

Physical science: 

5-8: Motions and forces
9-12: Motions and forces
9-12: Structure and properties of matter

Life science: 

K-4: Characteristics of organisms
9-12: Biological evolution

Science as inquiry: 

K-4: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
K-4: Understanding about scientific inquiry
5-8: Understanding about scientific inquiry
9-12: Understanding about scientific inquiry
Resources
Download zip file [3]

Download all files (ZIP) [3]

Files: 

application/pdf iconLesson Plan [18]
application/pdf iconLego System [19]
application/pdf iconFurther reading _discussion_classroom/camp format [20]
image/tiff iconGecko Tape SEM at 300X [21]
image/tiff iconGecko Tape SEM at 600X [22]
image/tiff iconGecko Tape SEM at 2500X [23]
Evaluations
Comments

Control experiment? [24]

Submitted by Tom Deits [25] on Fri, 08/27/2010 - 11:49.

We are reviewing this experiment for possible use and have a question - double sticky tape is used as the base for the silicon microcolumns, but to what extent does the inherent stickiness of the original tape contribute to the ability of the material to adhere when tested? Would a control using the original sticky tape for comparison be a useful addition to the experiment?

Source URL: http://nisenet.org/catalog/programs/biomimicry_synthetic_gecko_tape_through_nanomolding

Links:
[1] http://nisenet.org/catalog/programs
[2] http://nisenet.org/catalog/programs/facilitated_activity
[3] http://nisenet.org/node/4665/filefield_compress/all
[4] http://nisenet.org/users/rashmi_nanjundaswamy
[5] http://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/images/catalog/about/SEM_of_Synthetic_Gecko_Tape.gif
[6] http://nisenet.org/community/organizations/lawrence-hall-science
[7] http://nisenet.org/catalog/programs/classroom_activity
[8] http://nisenet.org/catalog/programs/game
[9] http://nisenet.org/category/nano-interests/fundamentals
[10] http://nisenet.org/category/nano-interests/materials-tools-applications
[11] http://nisenet.org/category/audience/7
[12] http://nisenet.org/catalog/topics/gecko
[13] http://nisenet.org/catalog/topics/gecko_tape
[14] http://nisenet.org/catalog/topics/van-der_waals_forces
[15] http://nisenet.org/catalog/topics/nanomolding
[16] http://nisenet.org/catalog/topics/van_der_waals_forces
[17] http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/
[18] http://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/uploads/4665/synthetic_gecko_tape_facilitated_activity.pdf
[19] http://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/uploads/4665/Gecko_LEGOTestingsystem_June10.pdf
[20] http://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/uploads/4665/Geckofoot_Dicussion_June10.pdf
[21] http://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/uploads/4665/6-24-gecko-300.tif
[22] http://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/uploads/4665/6-24-gecko-600.tif
[23] http://nisenet.org/sites/default/files/catalog/uploads/4665/gecko_tape__2500x.tif
[24] http://nisenet.org/print/4665#comment-273
[25] http://nisenet.org/users/tom_deits
[26] http://nisenet.org/user/login?destination=node%2F4665%23comment-form
[27] http://nisenet.org/user/register?destination=node%2F4665%23comment-form