1. Growth of Inorganic Nanoparticles in Patterned Arrays Using Biological Templates
Szu-Wen Wang
Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
University of California, Irvine, CA
The ability to fabricate assemblies comprising small (1-10 nm) nanoparticles into arrays of predetermined spacing and arrangement, while of fundamental interest and importance, is not readily accomplished. Evidence from larger nanomaterials suggests that array assembly offers a new avenue to obtain novel catalytic properties. However, it is unknown how the spatial characteristics of arrays consisting of particles small enough to exhibit nanosize effects will influence their material and catalytic features. To investigate these questions, we have established a biological system for use as a template to direct the organization of inorganic nanomaterial arrays.
[ligand]
P1 lattice
C222 lattice
We have demonstrated:
· Solid-supported monolayers of highly-ordered protein arrays with alternative molecular configurations can be obtained by manipulating surface ligand density, solvent conditions, and genetic form of the protein.
· The size and quality of the crystalline arrays can be controlled by manipulating ionic strength.
· Ligand-functionalized gold nanoparticles can be attached to the crystalline domains.
ligand-Au +
200 nm
2D protein crystals
50 m