Project Details
Genetically optimized Tobacco mosaic viruses as scaffold for the in vitro generation of semiconductor bio/metal-oxide nanostructured architectures
Subject Area
Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
Biomaterials
Biomaterials
Term
from 2012 to 2019
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 210453926
The goal of this project is to establish a mild protein-based biomineralization process for the formation of defined layered semiconductors which can be employed for the production of electrical devices like field-effect transistors (FET) or sensors. To this aim, an in vitro assembly approach using different genetically modified Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) coat proteins as protein LEGO® for the generation of surface-modified virus-like reactive rods and fibers as structure-directing 1D scaffold will be applied. Chemical bath deposition (CBD) methods for the synthesis of the semiconducting metal oxides starting with ZnO, SnO2 and CdO will be developed which are compatible with these genetically modified TMV templates at close to ambient conditions. Moreover, layer thickness, surface roughness and crystallinity of these semiconductor metal oxides are sought to be optimized and characterized. Finally, device measurements in metal oxide FET geometry (MOSFET) with TMVmutant/inorganic semiconductor hybrids will be studied. This device application needs the characterization of the new TMV/inorganic hybrid materials with respect to their electrical properties and FET characteristics. We will finally be able to tune and optimize these properties via the applied biomineralization process (surface properties of the scaffold, particle size, deposition conditions, alignment) which will finally guide the material performance of the new bio-nano FET-devices.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes