Solid state molecular rectifier based on self organized metalloproteins

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel solid-state molecular rectifier using self-assembled metalloproteins, specifically azurin, which exploits their redox properties and self-assembly to create efficient room-temperature electronic devices.

Contribution

It introduces a new biomolecular electronic device based on self-assembled metalloproteins, showcasing their potential for nanoscale rectifiers.

Findings

Successful fabrication of a biomolecular rectifier using azurin

Efficient rectifying behavior observed at room temperature

Utilization of self-assembly for device integration

Abstract

Recently, great attention has been paid to the possibility of implementing hybrid electronic devices exploiting the self-assembling properties of single molecules. Impressive progress has been done in this field by using organic molecules and macromolecules. However, the use of biomolecules is of great interest because of their larger size (few nanometers) and of their intrinsic functional properties. Here, we show that electron-transfer proteins, such as the blue copper protein azurin (Az), can be used to fabricate biomolecular electronic devices exploiting their intrinsic redox properties, self assembly capability and surface charge distribution. The device implementation follows a bottom-up approach in which the self assembled protein layer interconnects nanoscale electrodes fabricated by electron beam lithography, and leads to efficient rectifying behavior at room temperature.