Electron Transport across Phycobiliprotein Films and Its Optoelectronic Properties

Abstract

Biomolecules such as proteins, peptides being the most crucial life-forms, have an intimate relationship with various life activities for biological functions. Recent, contemporary work with biomolecules mainly focuses on its evolving potential associated with nanoscale electronics where proteins and peptides are integrated as sensing materials. We have explored the optoelectronics functionality of combined proteins known as phycobiliproteins. We have investigated electron transport behavior across the phycobiliproteins films under dark and white light illumination. We affirm that the photochemical activity of the protein is more stable in a solid-state/ thin film with tightly bonded water molecules than its presence in a buffer solution. Furthermore, our studies demonstrate that phycobiliproteins films modulate their electrical conductivity within their different conformation states. We speculate that the electrical conductance variation could originate from the chemical alteration of cysteine-conjugated bilin chromophores to protein and the electrostatic environment around the chromophores.