Current Rectification Via Photosystem i Monolayers Induced by Their Orientation on Hydrophilic Self-Assembled Monolayers on Titanium Nitride

Jonathan Rojas, Zhe Wang, Feng Liu, Jerry A. Fereiro, Domenikos Chryssikos, Thomas Dittrich, Dario Leister, David Cahen, Marc Tornow

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Photosystem I (PSI) is a photosynthetic protein which evolved to efficiently transfer electrons through the thylakoid membrane. This remarkable process attracted the attention of the biomolecular electronics community, which aims to study and understand the underlying electronic transport through these proteins by contacting ensembles of PSI with solid-state metallic contacts. This paper extends published work of immobilizing monolayers of PSI with a specific orientation, by using organophosphonate self-assembled molecules with hydrophilic heads on ultra-flat titanium nitride. Electrical measurements carried out with eutectic GaIn top contacts showed current rectification ratios of up to 200. The previously proposed rectification mechanism, relying on the protein's internal electric dipole, was inquired by measuring shifts in the work function. Our straightforward bottom-up fabrication method may allow for further experimental studies on PSI molecules, such as embedding them in solid-state, transparent top contact schemes for optoelectronic measurements.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2024 IEEE 24th International Conference on Nanotechnology, NANO 2024
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
Pages266-271
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9798350386240
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024
Externally publishedYes
Event24th IEEE International Conference on Nanotechnology, NANO 2024 - Gijon, Spain
Duration: 8 Jul 202411 Jul 2024

Publication series

NameProceedings of the IEEE Conference on Nanotechnology
ISSN (Print)1944-9399
ISSN (Electronic)1944-9380

Conference

Conference24th IEEE International Conference on Nanotechnology, NANO 2024
Country/TerritorySpain
CityGijon
Period8/07/2411/07/24

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 IEEE.

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