Nature’s nanotechnology, bio mimicry,and making the superpowers of your

dreams a realityPrepared by:Sarbast Mamnd & Solin IbrahimSupervised by:Dr. Ronak 13-1-2016

Outline:what is a natural nanomaterial?Shark SkinThe Lotus EffectButterfly ColorsGeckoToucan BeaksA Material Stronger than Steel and More Elastic than Nylon?References

what is a natural nanomaterial?

All materials can in principle be described at the nanoscale.

By natural nanomaterials here we maen that materials belong to the natural world (animals and mineral) without human modification or processing, and that have remarkable properties because of their inherent nanostructure.

Shark SkinSharks have been swimming in the oceans for millions of years without the problematic accumulation of algae and bacteria on the surface of their skin.This is because the nano‑scale patterns on the shark’s skin deflect the accumulation of barnacles, algae, and bacteria which is called anti‑fouling .Algae and bacteria tend to settle on surfaces and ultimately establish colonies and biofilms. It is easier to colonize a smooth surface, whereas establishing a biofilm over a rough surface requires too much energy for colonization and makes signaling between cells in the colony difficult.

Shark SkinThese surfaces are essential for maintaining functional pipelines, ships, submarines, and other submerged infrastructures and technologies.Until now, anti‑fouling techniques have primarily involved coating surfaces with chemicals that can be toxic to humans and the environment, in addition to their bacterial and algal targets. bufalin (3,4-dihydroxybufa-20,22 dienolide)

The Lotus EffectThe super hydrophobic power of self cleaning:The leaves of the lotus flower exhibit extremely water‑repellent properties due to micro and nano‑structures on the leaf surface.

These structures allow the plant to have a magnificent self‑cleaning function

This concept has been extrapolated and applied to sealing windshields, waterproofing phones, and protecting fabrics, wood, and other surfaces from dirt, dust, or car exhaust particle residue.

Butterfly Colors

Butterfly wings are layers of nanoparticles seperated by layers of air.The thickness of the layers changes the colors that we see.

These nanostructures are coated with hydrophobic wax crystals

approximately 1 nm in diameter.This makes the surface at the nanoscale quite rough.

Butterfly Colors

Besides repelling water (hydrophobic) and color, the nanoscales make butterfly wings self-cleaning.

= water

= dirt

These nanostructures

don’t just make me pretty. They also keep me clean by

shedding water and dirt!

Butterfly Colors

1. Depending on what you need, these nanoparticles might be made into flourescent proteins, DNA, viruses, or dyes.

2. These flourescent nanoscale polymer fibers might be used to reflect visible, UV and IR radiation for cooling or transmit certain wavelengths of light for warming.

3. They can also used for bar coding or other functions.

4. The ideas are endless!

Gecko:Geckos have the unique ability to scale vertical surfaces with both strong attachment of their toes to the surface coupled with easy and rapid removal. They are able to do this due to the attractive forces of millions of nano‑scale hairs on their toes known as setae and spatula.These create a “frictional adhesive” to other surfaces by increasing the surface area of the toe—meaning more of the toe actually interacts with any given surface.

The attractive forces at play here are known as Van der Waals forces.

These are weakly attractive forces that exist between nearly all chemicals and materials. Geckos turn this weakly attractive force into an adhesive attraction to be reckoned with by multiplying it by the millions of setae and spatulae on their toes.

Gecko:

500,000 hairs per toe Hundreds of nanoprojections (spatulae) per hair Adhesive force in one foot = 100 newtons One dime-sized spot could lift a child

weighing 45 pounds.

Toucan Beaks : Strong and Light

The nanostructure of toucan beaks inspires automotive panels that could protect passengers in crashes.

And inspires construction of ultralight aircraft components.

Toucan Beaks

The exterior of the toucan beak is made up of overlapping nanosized tiles of keratin, the same protein that makes up hair, fingernails, and horn.

The interior of the beak is a rigid foam made of a network of nanosized bony fibers connected by membranes. This allows the beak to absorb high-energy impacts.

Keratin tiles glued together

Horns such as those of the impala are made up of keratin covering a core of live bone

A Material Stronger than Steel and More Elastic than Nylon?

For 450 million years, spiders have made silk, protein-based nanomaterials that self-assemble into fibers and sheets.  

If we figure out how to copy this nanscience feat, scientists would like to use the material to create an elevator to space.

References:

1. https://www.teachengineering.org/view_lesson.php?url=collection/duk_/lessons/duk_surfacetensionunit_lessons/duk_surfacetensionunit_less4.xml

2. http://www.ehow.com/facts_5673454_chemical-elements-keratin_.html

3. sustainable-nano.com/.../natures-nanotechnology-bio-mimicry-and-maki.

4. www.nisenet.org/catalog/programs/biomimicry_nature_nanotech

Thank youAny question?