An investigation of the conductivity of peptide nanotube networks prepared by enzyme-triggered self-assembly.
We demonstrate that nanotubular networks formed by enzyme-triggered self-assembly of Fmoc-L3 (9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl-tri-leucine) show significant charge transport. FT-IR, fluorescence spectroscopy and wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) data confirm formation of beta-sheets that are locked together viapi-stacking interactions. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the pi-pi stacking distance between fluorenyl groups to be 3.6-3.8 A. Impedance spectroscopy demonstrated that the nanotubular xerogel networks possess minimum sheet resistances of 0.1 MOmega/sq in air and 500 MOmega/sq in vacuum (pressure: 1.03 mbar) at room temperature, with the conductivity scaling linearly with the mass of peptide in the network. These materials may provide a platform to interface biological components with electronics.
Xu
Haixia
H
School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK M1 7HS.
Das
Apurba K
AK
Horie
Masaki
M
Shaik
Majeed S
MS
Smith
Andrew M
AM
Luo
Yi
Y
Lu
Xiaofeng
X
Collins
Richard
R
Liem
Steven Y
SY
Song
Aimin
A
Popelier
Paul L A
PL
Turner
Michael L
ML
Xiao
Ping
P
Kinloch
Ian A
IA
Ulijn
Rein V
RV
D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000737:chemistry; D007930:Leucine / Q000737:chemistry*; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D036103:Nanotechnology; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013696:Temperature; D014965:X-Rays
C496789:9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl; D005449:Fluorenes; D007930:Leucine