(23f) Self-Assembly of Virus-Templated High Surface Area Ni and Co Nano-Structures

Interest in nanotechnology is increasing as the need for cheap, reproducible, and easily manufactured nano-structured devices increases. Using a biological platform provides a readily available, inexpensive, and uniform template with modifiable characteristics for the creation of high-area surfaces. Genetically modified Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), containing additional surface-reactive cysteine residues, is first vertically self-assembled onto a gold surface and then encased in a continuous ~20 nm thick coating of Ni or Co. Coated surfaces are characterized using XPS, FESEM, and TEM. These high-area surfaces have potential use in numerous applications; we demonstrate one potential use as a cathode for a secondary battery.