Fabrication of Ordered Nanostructures in Ta Films Using 2D Array of Ferritin Molecules as Template

Abstract

Metal (Ta) films with ordered structures of nanometer-scale dimensions were fabricated by replicating the structure of a 2D array of ferritin molecules as a template. The deposition of a Ta layer onto a 2D array of ferritin molecules using ion-beam sputtering and subsequent removal of the ferritin molecules generated Ta films with an ordered array of concave with a 13 nm interval. The uniformity and chemical stability of Ta formed by ion-beam sputtering contributed to the precise replication of the fine structures of the 2D array of ferritin molecules.

Ferritin: A Versatile Building Block for Bionanotechnology

“…120, 174,213,230,231 Under not too harsh conditions, the protein moiety can be removed, and arrays of inorganic nanodots were obtained. Unfortunately, the experimental difficulty of this procedure makes the fabrication of arrays by this method unsuitable for device fabrication.…”

“…Although the formation of 2D-crystalline arrays at liquid–liquid interfaces is experimentally a delicate task, Yoshimura and others have managed to produce excellent arrays of ferritin and Dps loaded with inorganic minerals over large areas by picking up self-assembled monolayers from the liquid interface. ,,,, Under not too harsh conditions, the protein moiety can be removed, and arrays of inorganic nanodots were obtained. Unfortunately, the experimental difficulty of this procedure makes the fabrication of arrays by this method unsuitable for device fabrication.…”

Advancements of the Molecular Directed Design and Structure–Activity Relationship of Ferritin Nanocage

“…Ion beam sputtering can achieve the deposition of a metal layer on the ferritin 2D array surface, which is a fine replication of the ferritin 2D array structure template, forming a metal nanofilm with an ordered concave array structure. This shows that unstable ordered structures of biomolecules can be transferred to a variety of materials …”

“…This shows that unstable ordered structures of biomolecules can be transferred to a variety of materials. 147 Furthermore, ferritin can achieve 2D arrangement at the air− water interface through simple diffusion, which is based on the ferritin interface diffusion that occurs based on the surface tension and density difference between the ferritin solution and the subphase. For instance, ferritin solution floats from the bottom of the cadmium solution subphase with higher density and surface tension and finally spreads into a continuous film at the air−water interface instantaneously.…”

“…For instance, the formation of 1D single-particle chains using ferritin allows for the replacement of the internal iron core with inorganic/semiconductor nanoparticles, creating nanodevices for nanoelectronic conduction . Additionally, the ferritin 2D array surface on solid materials and the ferritin crystal array formed at the air–water interface contribute to the development of nanoscale thin film structures. − The oxidation deposition of iron into the 2D array of ferritin results in a 2D structure of the iron core, which could be useful for floating gate memory applications . And the 2D ferritin superlattice in solution may also act as a biological template for 2D inorganic nanoparticle arrays .…”