title: Self-assembled peptide nanofiber templated one-dimensional gold nanostructures exhibiting resistive switching.
abstract: An amyloid-like peptide molecule self-assembling into one-dimensional nanofiber structure in ethanol was designed and synthesized with functional groups that can bind to gold ions. The peptide nanofibers were used as templates for nucleation and growth of one-dimensional gold nanostructures in the presence of ascorbic acid as reducing agent. We performed multistep seed-mediated synthesis of gold nanoparticles by changing peptide/gold precursor and peptide/reducing agent ratios. Gold nanostructures with a wide range of morphologies such as smooth nanowires, noodle-like one-dimensional nanostructures, and uniform aggregates of spherical nanoparticles were synthesized by use of an environmentally friendly synthesis method. Nanoscale electrical properties of gold-peptide nanofibers were investigated using atomic force microscopy. Bias dependent current (IV) measurements on thin films of gold-peptide nanofiber hybrid revealed tunneling dominated transport and resistive switching. Gold-peptide nanofiber composite nanostructures can provide insight into electrical conduction in biomolecular/inorganic composites, highlighting their potential applications in electronics and optics.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM), Bilkent University, Ankara, 06800, Turkey.
authors.forename: Handan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.forename: Rukan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Genc
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urel
authors.forename: Turan S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Erkal
authors.forename: Aykutlu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dana
authors.forename: Mustafa O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Guler
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000737:chemistry; D000682:Amyloid / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D017097:Electric Impedance; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D019163:Reducing Agents / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000682:Amyloid; D010455:Peptides; D019163:Reducing Agents; D006046:Gold