Genetically engineered protein based nacre-like nanocomposites with superior mechanical and electrochemical performance
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A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
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Date
2020-01-14
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Language
en
Pages
14
656-669
656-669
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Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Volume 8, issue 2
Abstract
The molecular engineering of proteins at the atomistic scale with specific material binding units and the introduction of designed functional-linkers provides a unique approach to fabricate genetically modified high performance and responsive biomimetic composites. This work is inspired by a tough biological material, nacre, which possesses a hierarchical 'brick-mortar' architecture containing multifunctional soft organic molecules, which plays a significant role in improved mechanical properties of composites. A bio-inspired composite, using a resilin-based hybrid protein polymer with selective binding motifs for reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC), was developed. The adhesive and elastic domains of fusion proteins show a synergistic effect with improvement in both the strength and toughness of synthetic nacre. We observed that the hybrid protein could act as a spacer molecule tuning the ion sorption and transport across the inter-layers of NFC/RGO depending on the processing conditions. Interestingly, the protein complexed freestanding solid-state films showed negligible internal resistance and improved supercapacitance suitable for flexible electronic devices. The protein-mediated binding of NFC and RGO reduces the resistance arising from poor electrode/electrolyte interfaces, which is difficult to achieve through conventional routes. The current biosynthetic route for engineering proteins provides a novel prospect to develop materials programmed with desired properties, depending on target applications.Description
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Dhar, P, Phiri, J, Szilvay, G R, Westerholm-Parvinen, A, Maloney, T & Laaksonen, P 2020, ' Genetically engineered protein based nacre-like nanocomposites with superior mechanical and electrochemical performance ', Journal of Materials Chemistry A, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 656-669 . https://doi.org/10.1039/c9ta10881e
