Biologically-Directed Synthesis and Self-Assembly of NanoElectronics

Keywords:
semiconductor, nanowire, nanoelectronics, self-assembly, biology, field emission transmitter

Abstract:
This presentation will describe how electronics products may be developed using biologically-directed materials synthesis and self-assembly technology at room temperature, with minimal environmental impact. Cambrios co-founder Dr. Angela Belcher of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has previously demonstrated the ability to discover small proteins that bind inorganic materials such as semiconductors, magnetic materials, metals, ceramics, optically active materials such as GaAs and GaN, and interesting compounds such as ITO. These proteins can often catalyze the formation of these materials from their component salts in aqueous solutions at room temperature. Dr. Knapp will discuss the utilization of bi-functional peptides in the creation of solution-phase epitaxial growth, which is potentially an extremely flexible way of making thin film electronics and integrated circuits. The genes coding for these proteins can be engineered into particular places within the genome of biological organisms (phage viruses) such that they are expressed at the surface of the organism. The material to which they bind can then be templated into a biomorphic shape, such as a nanowire having a cross sectional diameter of approximately 20 nm. This presentation will address the parametrics of biomorphic nanowire construction and discuss the mechanistic implications for how peptides direct materials synthesis and affect the size, orientation and shape of the resulting nanocrystals.

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Nanotech 2005 Conference Program Abstract