New Perspectives in Science Education
Electrochemical Generated Coin Metal Nanoparticles in School Chemistry Education: Experiments and Models for K-12 Class
Stefanie Waitz, Department of Chemistry Education, Georg-August-University Göttingen (Germany)
Elena von Hoff, Georg-August-University Göttingen (Germany)
Felix Kollenda, Department of Chemistry Education, Georg-August-University Göttingen (Germany)
Thomas Waitz, Georg-August-University Göttingen (Germany)
Abstract
In this contribution, we present the synthesis of coin metal nanoparticles and nanoporous surfaces by cathodic corrosion using a simple school setup [1,2]. The fabrication is accomplished by dipping the respective metal electrode into an electrolyte solution with an inert electrode serving as the counter electrode. Applying a low alternating voltage, metal nanoparticles are formed within seconds by corrosion of the electrodes, resulting in nanoporous electrode surfaces and opaque dispersions containing agglomerated nanoparticles, both confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. In addition to the fabrication, we present school experiments applying the obtained materials as catalysts. These include for example the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide and the platinum catalyzed chemiluminescence of lucigenin. The educational potential of the experiments is highlighted by didactical processed models suited for K-12 class as well as possible connections to teaching topics involving technical applications and environmental protection. In this respect, we will discuss selected perspectives of nanoscience education as a suited subject for an education for a sustainable development [3]. In detail, we will refer to socioscientific issues (ssi) concerning the application of coin metal nanoparticles in everyday life items.
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Literature:
[1] Yanson, A. I., Rodriguez, P., Garcia-Araez, N., Mom, R. V., Tichelaar, F. D., Koper, M. T. M., „Cathodic Corrosion: A Quick, Clean, and Versatile Method for the Synthesis of Metallic Nanoparticles,” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 50. 6346-6350. May 2011.
[2] Rodriguez, P., Tichelaar, F. D., Koper, M. T. M., Yanson, A. I., “Cathodic Corrosion as a Facile and Effective Method To Prepare Clean Metal Alloy Nanoparticles,” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 133. 17626-17629. Oct. 2011.
[3] Nonninger, R., Dege, J., Wilke, T., Waitz, T., Nanoscience Education in School Chemistry - Perspectives for Curricular Innovations in Context of an Education for a Sustainable Development, in:
Global Perspectives of Nanoscience and Engineering, edited by K. Winkelmann, B. Bhutan, Springer, (2016) 237-274.
