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J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 65 - 67, DOI: 10.1039/b918620d

Biomimetic synthesis of photoactive -Fe2O3 templated by the hyperthermophilic ferritin from Pyrococus furiosus

Michael T. Klem, Mark Young and Trevor Douglas

Utilizing a biomimetic approach toward materials synthesis a ferritin protein cage, from the hyperthermophilic archeaon Pyrococcus furiosus, was utilized to first tempate the formation of a largely amorphous ferrihydrite iron oxide and then bring about its transformation to hematite (-Fe2O3). This was achieved under boiling aqueous conditions by refluxing the ferritin protein cage/ferrihydrite composite. The resultant material showed diffraction indicative of hematite, a visible band gap semiconductor, and photocurrents were measured under visible illumination. The resultant protein/mineral composite was also studied via dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and size exclusion chromatography.

Graphical abstract image for this article (ID: b918620d)