Self-Assembling Materials for Energy Storage and Transport Sarah Heilshorn, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University Goal: Utilize biological assemblies to synthesize nanomaterials with unprecedented control Strategy: Direct the self-assembly of a natural protein, clathrin, to form nano-cages Functionalize the nano-cages with peptides to bridge the biologic-inorganic interface Innovation: Biomimetic approach to functionalize protein templates - Site-specific functionalization with no genetic or chemical modifications required - A modular & flexible strategy to create multiple inorganic nanomaterials from one scaffold Clathrin Nano-Cages Inorganic Nanoparticles Purification Self assembly Site-specific functionalization Inorganic templating Scale bars = 50 nm Anatase titanium dioxide Cobalt oxide Gold