Biomimicry: Synthetic Gecko Tape through Nanomolding

Overview
Standards
Resources
Evaluations
Comments

Overview

Biomimicry: Synthetic Gecko Tape through Nanomolding

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

Checklist

Scientist reviewed? check_reviewed

Peer reviewed? check_reviewed

Visitor evaluation? check_reviewed

Permissions

Creative Commons
Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike

Standards

Life science:

K-4: Characteristics of organisms

9-12: Biological evolution

Physical science:

5-8: Motions and forces

9-12: Motions and forces

9-12: Structure and properties of matter

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

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 all files (ZIP)

Files:

Lesson Plan

Lego System

Further reading _discussion_classroom/camp format

Gecko Tape SEM at 300X

Gecko Tape SEM at 600X

Gecko Tape SEM at 2500X

Evaluations

Biomimicry

After completing the Biomimicry: Synthetic Gecko Tape activity, surveys were distributed to fourteen visitors. The survey was designed to elicit information regarding the degree of visitor interest, enjoyment, and ease in understanding the activity. Responding visitors for this activity actually participated in a week-long program; some of their responses reflect their participation in numerous activities. Read more

Comments

Control experiment?

Submitted by Tom Deits 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?