A Nano-Visualization Software for Education and Research

Abstract

Abstract:We report the development of a user-friendly nano-visualization software program which can acquaint high-school students with nanotechnology. The visual introduction to atoms and molecules, which are the building blocks of this technology, is an effective way to introduce the key concepts in this area. The software's graphical user interface enables multidimensional atomic visualization by using ball and stick schematics. Additionally, the software provides the option of wavefunction visualization for arbitrary nanomaterials and nanostructures by using extended Hückel theory. The software is instructive, application oriented and may be useful not only in high school education but also for the undergraduate research and teaching.