Nano and Proteins

MALDI stands for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectroscopy and is used to analyze large organic molecules. Google it for more information.


microcystin LR:
 

Collagen:







Amino Acids:

Nano-powder

Our group is attempting to create a more powerful ballistics powder than we currently have. The military is always trying to make more deadly weapons, it’s been a while since they have come up with a new form of gunpowder. Our hope is that through nanotechnology, we can create a superior gunpowder.

The Nano-powder will be comprised of the same chemicals used to make gunpowder but at the nano scale. The idea is that by reducing the grain size, we will increase the surface area and thus the volatility of the compound.

Using magnetic stir bars, we would mix together the chemicals and water then press the paste through a screen to make small equally sized pellets. This is very similar to how they make gunpowder today; however, each of our individual pellets would be more flammable, making a bullet filled with this powder more powerful.

Obviously this powder would be dangerous if not handled correctly.

I don’t know the cost of mass-producing this powder; however, the US military has quite a lot of funding. Therefore, the cost is not a large concern.

The same regulations used to produce all flammable substances would be used. I don’t know the regulations as that would likely be covered by the government funded production campany.

The consumer of this product would likely be military and therefore accept the product graciously.

Group Project

We are going to work on Nano-powder, a ultra-fine version of gunpowder that is two have to basic uses:
1) Mini explosions
2) Larger explosions with low volume of powder

Our Group is
1) Kymble Sanderson
2) Elliott Carroll
3) Richard Hoverman
4) Bryant Hagen

Interesting Nano Applications

Bio-technical applications
   -http://www.merkle.com/papers/bionano.html
Military applications
http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=1015.php
Apparel applications
http://www.nanotex.com/
Cleaning products
http://www.understandingnano.com/cleaning.html
Electronics
http://spectrum.ieee.org/nanoclast/semiconductors/nanotechnology/the-future-of-nanotechnology-in-the-mobile-phone  (watch the video)
Youtube Nokia Morph commercial
Moniters and screens 
youtube Nanotechnology TV Sony
Adhesives
http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=3180.php

10 Nanotech Sources

Here are a few good sources for information on nanotechnology:
http://nanotechnology.com/
www.nist.gov 

- specifically the "Small Nanoparticles Bring Big Improvement to Medical Imaging" article http://www.mddionline.com/blog/techtalk/nanoblasts-punching-drug-deliver http://wtnnews.com/articles/3282/ http://www.nano.gov/ http://www.crnano.org/whatis.htm http://www.nanotech-now.com/ http://www.nature.com/nnano/index.html http://www.foresight.org/nano/ http://www.guardian.co.uk/nanotechnology-world/little-things-big-impact?newsfeed=true

Laser Diffraction Experiment

We are working with four different patterns. The left 2 patterns consist of vertical lines and the right 2 pattern consist of horizontal lines. When the laser projected through the patterns, we saw something like this:

(This is not to scale)

The lasers were placed 1 m away from a sheet a paper.

Red laser:

The top two patterns created a line of dots 1 cm apart and the bottom two patterns created a line of dots 1.5 cm apart.

Green laser:

The top two patterns created a line of dots 1 cm apart and the bottom two patterns created a line of dots 1.25 cm apart.

Therefore the distance between the top pattern's lines are 160 nm and 60 nm thick.

And the  distance between the top pattern's lines are 130 nm and 60 nm thick.

Wave Interface Simulation

1) A drop at 50% amplitude and a frequency at 20% has a wave length of 3.7 cm

    A drop at 100% amplitude and a frequency at 20% has a wave length of  cm 3.15 cm

2)  A drop at 50% amplitude and a frequency at 20% has a wave length of 3.7 cm

     A drop at 50% amplitude and a frequency at 50% has a wave length of 1.63 cm

3) Therefore:

      - When frequency is constant, an increase in amplitude causes a minor decrease in wave length.

      - When amplitude is constant, an increase in frequency causes a significant decrease in wave length.

4) There are now two faucets and both are set at a at 50% amplitude and a 50% frequency.

       - Wave length 1.6.

Refer to the picture so the following information makes sense. Also note that the top faucet will be referred to as "Faucet A" and the bottom faucet will be referred to as "Faucet B". We will be measuring the distance from where the drops enter the water to eight color-coded points which represent the high points of the water created by the waves.

Color of Dot	Black	Red	Grey	Brown	Green	Blue	Purple	White
Distance from “Faucet A”	6 cm	3 cm	4.5 cm	3 cm	5.5 cm	6 cm	6 cm	7.5 cm
Distance from “Faucet B”	9 cm	6 cm	6 cm	5 cm	3 cm	5 cm	3 cm	6 cm

The important thing to notice here is that while each point has a different distance from each faucet they are all divisible or close to divisible by 1.5. This is important because it reemphasizes the fact that wave lengths are consistent enough to be considered a unit of measurement.

* The measurements that are not divisible by 1.5 are technical errors due to inaccuracies in the program.
* I am working on adding a picture of the program I was using to make it easier to understand what I'm talking about.