Expanding the Plasmonic Color Palette: Enhancing Nanotechnology Education through a User-Friendly Teaching Platform

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Olha Aftenieva - , Chair of Physical Chemistry of Polymeric Materials, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Daniel Schletz - , Chair of Physical Chemistry of Polymeric Materials, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Tim Offenhäußer - , Studio Fluffy – Society for Art and Applied Mathematics UG (Author)
  • Johannes Riesterer - , Studio Fluffy – Society for Art and Applied Mathematics UG (Author)
  • Sierk Schmalzriedt - , Studio Fluffy – Society for Art and Applied Mathematics UG (Author)
  • Tobias A.F. König - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed) (Author)

Abstract

Colors generated by plasmonic nanoparticles offer ideal access to nanotechnology for regular consumers, school pupils, or students. Unlike gold as a raw material, plasmonic gold nanoparticles change color with size due to the unique interaction of the metal’s free electrons with the incident light. However, the color palette generated solely by gold nanoparticles is limited, thus limiting the user experience. Fortunately, using shapes with fewer symmetry axes and materials with lower damping can help expand the plasmonic color palette. Our research explores color perception in reflection and transmission for various types of nanoparticles, including cubic and silver nanoparticles. Our study revisits millennia-old plasmonic coloring techniques, contrasts historical methods with modern simulations, and shows integration into an existing teaching platform. This software architecture innovatively combines the open accessibility of Python with the visualization capabilities of the Unity game engine to create a user-friendly platform that transforms complex scientific computations into engaging and interactive educational applications. Finally, we systematically compared the user experiences of the teaching platform, revealing the overall positive perception of the learning concept. In such a way, we ensure that our platform is effective and provides a low-threshold way for individuals to access plasmonics using colloidal building blocks. Thereby, we create an intuitive approach to the potential of nanotechnology for everyone, making it an exciting and engaging study area.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3311-3317
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of chemical education
Volume101
Issue number8
Publication statusPublished - 13 Aug 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • color perception, nanotechnology education, plasmonic nanoparticles, teaching platform, user engagement