Bio-Inspired Evolution of Zinc Oxide-Based Materials Directed by Amino Acids and Peptides
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Bio-inspired evolution of zinc oxide-based materials directed by amino acids and peptides. Joachim Bill, Peter Gerstel, Rudolf C. Hoffmann, Lars P. H. Jeurgens1, Peter Lipowsky, Stefanie Wildhack, Fritz Aldinger Max-Planck-Institut für Metallforschung and Institut für Nichtmetallische Anorganische Materialien, Universität Stuttgart, Pulvermetallurgisches Laboratorium, Heisenbergstrasse 3, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany. 1 Max-Planck-Institut für Metallforschung, Department Mittemeijer, Heisenbergstrasse 3, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany. ABSTRACT Within this paper the suitability of amino acids and dipeptides as structure-directing agents is discussed. According to that bio-inspired approach these biomolecules were investigated with respect to the evolution of zinc oxide-based architectures. Those small molecules are able to trigger the morphology of these materials ranging from grain-like via two up to three dimensional features. Besides morphological aspects the structural characterization of these solids by means of electron and atomic force microscopy as well as by photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction are discussed in order to extract the function of the biomolecules with regard to the formation of the inorganic phases. INTRODUCTION Zinc oxide represents a promising material for functional applications, e. g. as a phosphor or a transparent and conductive oxide. Due to these applications, miniaturization and nanostructuring of zinc oxide-based materials and devices is a challenging research item. For that purpose, the deposition from aqueous media basically provides an effective means. However, in the case of zinc oxide the deposition behavior is strongly controlled by the tendency to form elongated micron-sized crystals that made the formation of smooth homogeneous nanostructures so far impossible. Recently, the preparation of zinc oxide-based nanostructured films was reported [1]. The applied method involves macromolecular organic additives like graft copolymers or homopolymers, which are added to the aqueous deposition medium. Owing to the interaction of these polymers with zinc oxide in solution the growth of micron-sized crystals is suppressed and organic/inorganic hybrid nanoparticles are formed within the deposition solution. The subsequent assembly of these particles can be controlled by organically modified surfaces and yields nanostructured films with luminescent properties [2]. The interaction of organic molecules with inorganic phases is also observed in living nature, e. g. in the case of biomineralization processes, that lead to the formation of complex organic/inorganic structures [3]. Furthermore, there are examples, where metal ions interact with bioorganic molecules. In this connection, amino acids like histidine are involved, e. g. within the so-called zinc finger, a configuration of a DNA-binding protein [4]. Furthermore, the binding of polypeptides to semiconducting metal oxides like ZnO and Cu2O has been described [5]. Within this paper the suitability of amino acids and dipeptid
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