NSF Sponsored High School Chemical Olympics (not shown)

1. Hydrophobicity Switching on Nanoscale and its Applications Sergei N. Smirnov, New Mexico State University, DMR 0900238 Hydrophobicity is a fundamental property that is responsible for numerous physical and biophysical aspects of molecular interactions in water. Behavior of water in sub micrometer and nanometer size hydrophobic structures is peculiar and can be utilized in various applications, often mimicking natural phenomena. Our research group at NMSU has recently demonstrated that the two states of hydrophobic nanopores in water, dry and wet, can be manipulated not only by pressure but also by voltage. Even though the wet state is thermodynamically unstable, we showed for the first time that voltage–induced gating in short nanopores can be realized in a reversible manner through electrowetting of inner walls of the nanopores. We also have succeeded in realization of pH induced gating, applicable in drug delivery systems, in which hydrophobicity switching by drop of pH was achieved in membranes with mixed surface modification that controls passage not only of molecules but also of water. A Illustration of pressure induced wetting of hydrophobic pores that becomes reversible only with pore narrowing. and C. Two mechanism of voltage gating in short hydro-phobic nanopores. pH sensitive membrane opens upon lowering pH to 5. C B D

2. Hydrophobicity Switching on Nanoscale and its Applications Sergei N. Smirnov, New Mexico State University, DMR 0900238 • Prof. Sergei Smirnov have mentored numerous students and researchers over the past 2-3 years work on hydrophobic nanopores, many of them from minority groups. Some pictures of students working in the lab are shown: Fabian is from Columbia, Areen is from Jordan (mother of three). Highlights of ongoing outreach activities include: • Providing high-school teachers and students with online activities, such chemistry exercises, for projects in their classroom and at home: web.nmsu.edu/~snsm/classes/exercises • Judging at science fairs and Chemical Olympics. Recent graduate, currently a technician: Jessica Curtiss Graduate Students:, Fabian Rios and Areen Khattabi NSF Sponsored High School Chemical Olympics (not shown)