Flagella-Templated Nanotube Formation for Nanoelectronics
Flagella isolated from Salmonella typhimurium can be used as a template for the formation of TiO2 nanotubes, which is accomplished through recent advances in low temperature ceramic film processing. TiO2 is precipitated onto or attracted to the flagellar surface in aqueous solution, a mechanism which is similar to the formation biominerals in nacre, sea urchin, and sponge spicule. In this research we not only develop flagellar functionalization for attachment and mineralization, but also characterize the electrical/electronic response of engineered flagellar nanotubes in chemically, thermally, or electrically loaded and unloaded conditions with an interdigitated electrode array to create a field effect transistor device based on the flagella as the semiconducting element.
Collaborators: Prof. Junghyun Cho @ Binghamton University
