Facile Nondestructive Assembly of Tyrosine‐Rich Peptide Nanofibers as a Biological Glue for Multicomponent‐Based Nanoelectrode Applications

Abstract

AbstractAchieving the nondestructive assembly of carbon nanoelectrodes with multiple components in a scalable manner enables effective electrical interfaces among nanomaterials. Here, a facile nondestructive multiscale assembly of multicomponent nanomaterials using self‐assembled tyrosine‐rich peptide nanofibers (TPFs) as a biological glue is reported. The versatile functionalities of the rationally devised tyrosine‐rich short peptide allow for (1) self‐assembly of the peptide into nanofibers using noncovalent interactions, followed by (2) immobilization of spatially distributed metal nanoparticles on the nanofiber surface, and (3) subsequent assembly with graphitic nanomaterials into a percolated network‐structure. This percolated network‐structure of silver nanoparticle (AgNP)‐decorated peptide nanofibers with imbedded single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) proves to be a versatile nanoelectrode platform with excellent processability. The SWNT–TPF–AgNP assembly, when utilized as a flexible and transparent multicomponent electronic film, was quite effective for enhancing direct electron transfer (DET) as verified for a third‐generation glucose sensor composed of this film. The simple solution process used to produce the functional nanomaterials could provide a new platform for scalable manufacturing of novel nanoelectrode materials forming effective electrical contacts with molecules from diverse biological systems.