Biomimetic controls over the formation of organic-inorganic hybrid materials through the design of bio- and biomimetic macromolecules
EMSL Project ID
60224
Abstract
The aim of this proposal is to utilize the capabilities of EMSL to investigate the self-assembly of bio- and biomimetic macromolecules, such as proteins and peptoids, into hierarchical materials and their sequence design on the influence of nanocrystal nucleation and growth, with the goal of achieving the predictive synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrid materials with designed properties and hierarchical structures. This work proposes to combine some unique capabilities at EMSL: (i) EMSL high-resolution ETEM and STEM-EDS with (ii) advanced liquid-cell TEM resources capabilities, (iii) SEM-EDX capabilities, (iv) AFM combined with fluorescence microscopy capabilities, (v) in situ ATR-FTIR, (vi) High-resolution environmental TEM, and (vii) cryo-EM which allows the size, morphology, and polymorphs observations of nanocrystals and self-assembly of bio- and biomimetic macromolecules. These capabilities will help us determine the roles of macromolecules in the molecular self-assembly and bio-controlled nanocrystal formation and control the intermolecular and molecule-surface interactions, providing molecular details for understanding bio-controlled inorganic material formation. We believe results generated from this study will provide the basis for future DOE BER funding of research into the bio-controlled nanomaterial formation process, such as the recent BER’s focus in the Next Biology Initiative for genome-encoded synthesis of hybrid materials.
Project Details
Start Date
2021-11-04
End Date
2022-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members