Self-assembled template-directed synthesis of one-dimensional silica and titania nanostructures

Langmuir. 2011 Feb 1;27(3):1079-84. doi: 10.1021/la104518g. Epub 2011 Jan 7.

Abstract

Mineralized biological materials such as shells, skeleton, and teeth experience biomineralization. Biomimetic materials exploit the biomineralization process to form functional organic-inorganic hybrid nanostructures. In this work, we mimicked the biomineralization process by the de novo design of an amyloid-like peptide that self-assembles into nanofibers. Chemically active groups enhancing the affinity for metal ions were used to accumulate silicon and titanium precursors on the organic template. The self-assembly process and template effect were characterized by CD, FT-IR, UV-vis, fluorescence, rheology, TGA, SEM, and TEM. The self-assembled organic nanostructures were exploited as a template to form high-aspect-ratio 1-D silica and titania nanostructures by the addition of appropriate precursors. Herein, a new bottom-up approach was demonstrated to form silica and titania nanostructures that can yield wide opportunities to produce high-aspect-ratio inorganic nanostructures with high surface areas. The materials developed in this work have vast potential in the fields of catalysis and electronic materials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure
  • Nanotechnology
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Titanium / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Titanium