Modification, Assembly and Characterization of Biological Evolved Electronic and Magnetic Hybrid Materials

摘要

The research reported include the transitioning of previous work developed with semiconductor materials to new magnetic materials that may potentially lead to the development of magnetic storage devices with higher storage capabilities and other such devices. We have successfully grown and optimized the process of synthesizing single crystal annealed wires of ZnS materials as well as CoPt wires grown on an engineered viral template. The first known synthesis of SmCo5 nanoparticles was achieved and conditions were further optimized for the synthesis and characterization of such materials. Additionally, viral screening of SmCo5, FePt and CoPt was performed and the identification of specific binding peptides was achieved. Growth of these magnetic materials on both specific viral-bound and synthetic peptides was extended and further optimized. Ferromagnetic properties of such materials grown via viral templates are just now being explored, as are changes in synthetic conditions for optimal growth. Finally, further genetic engineering of the viral templates is underway, with successful formation of viral ring structures. These structures will continue to be altered and engineered for the directed synthesis of magnetic and electronic materials, potentially evolving into the next generation of memory cells, magnetic films and self-assembling rings and tubes that act as giant dipoles.