Fabrication of highly oriented nanocluster arrays by biomolecular templating
Abstract
The formation of highly oriented cluster arrays by chemical deposition of platinum onto a regular 2D protein template is studied. The crystalline bacterial surface layer (S layer) of Sporosarcina ureae exhibiting a p4 symmetry with a lattice spacing of 13.2 nm is used as the protein template. Cluster deposition onto the S layer is achieved by chemical reduction of a platinum salt. The growth kinetics of the clusters has been examined by UV-VIS spectrometry. Transmission electron microscopy reveals the formation of well separated metal clusters with an average diameter of 1.9+/-0.6 nm. The lateral cluster arrangement is defined by the underlying protein crystal. We observe 7 cluster sites per unit cell corresponding to a density of 4×1012 cm-2. They are located in the nano-sized pores and gaps of the crystalline S layer.
- Publication:
-
European Physical Journal D
- Pub Date:
- 1999
- DOI:
- 10.1007/s100530050397
- Bibcode:
- 1999EPJD....9...45M
- Keywords:
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- PACS: 82.30.N Cluster formation in chemical reactions;
- 68.65.+g Low dimensional structures: superlattices;
- 87.15 Biopolymers